“Look the kids on the street are healthier. They drink any unfiltered water and they don’t fall ill. They have better immunity. We take so much care of our kids, but they fall ill all the time.”
This is one view I’ve heard from many parents and elders. But is this true? Let’s examine.
Prima facie, it seems like the kids who grow up on the streets may have better resistance to diseases and illness to an extent. This is due to their exposure to sunlight, their physical activity and exposure to food that is easily available. But the benefits end here.
In the long run, these kids may suffer damage to their organs and overall health due to their exposure to harmful substances through their food and water. Most of this kids have low life expectancy and may look old by the time they hit their 30s.
So, the next time any uncle or elderly person puts forward this argument that we should learn from the kids on the streets, we should suggest, “yes you are right, why don’t you start it with your kids?”
The right balance however, is to offer a variety of food items to the children, not making the kids addicted to minerals or packaged drinking water, asking the kids to play in the sun, reduce the time spent indoors and and reduce their interaction with gadgets. This will give them the opportunity to become strong, without compromising on their health.
