Getting Dirty Can Help You Beat The Blues
People who suffer from depression could benefit from getting “dirty”, according to new research. A “friendly” bacteria found in soil has the same uplifting effects as those produced by anti-depressant drugs, the study, published in Neuroscience, found.
Mice altered their behaviour and appeared more relaxed after being treated with the Mycobacterium vaccae. Scientists at Bristol University and University College London found the bacteria stimulated the immune system and activated a group of neurons in the brain which produce the mood enhancing chemical seratonin.
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Dentist in fix over lack of hygiene Have Your Say Talk about health on our message boards Dr Chris Lowry, lead author on the paper from Bristol University, said: “These studies help us understand how the body communicates with the brain and why a healthy immune system is important for maintaining mental health. “They also leave us wondering if we shouldn’t all spend more time playing in the dirt. “This soil, which carries the bacteria, is pretty ubiquitous and is found almost anywhere. “But we now need to find a way of getting it in our system, which we haven’t done yet.”
The study appears to support the “hygiene hypothesis” which argues a rise in conditions like asthma and allergies could be linked to a lack of exposure to various micro-organisms. The emphasis on cleaning and hygiene, particularly in urban Western environments, could be affecting people’s immune systems, according to the theory.
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