Amish Defy Allergy Epidemic: Secrets of Their Immunity Revealed

As of August 2025, the Amish community continues to defy the allergy epidemic sweeping across the developed world. While allergic diseases like hay fever, asthma, and food allergies have seen a dramatic rise over the past century, the Amish remain remarkably resistant, with only around 1-2% of Amish children affected by asthma compared to 8-10% nationwide.

Researchers have been studying this "farm effect" for years, and have now identified the key factors behind the Amish's exceptional immunity. The Amish's traditional farming lifestyle, which involves close contact with livestock and exposure to farm dust from an early age, appears to play a crucial role in shaping their immune systems. Analyses have shown that Amish homes have a microbial load nearly seven times higher than that of other farming communities, like the Hutterites, who have higher rates of allergic sensitization.

Experts believe that the diverse array of bacteria, microbes, and molecules found in Amish farm dust effectively "trains" the immune system to become less responsive to common allergens later in life. Now, researchers are working to develop protective treatments, such as probiotics or essential oils containing these beneficial substances, that could be given to young children to mimic the "farm effect" and prevent the development of allergic diseases.