Be Happy. Eat Dirt.

If you’ve ever wondered why gardeners seem to be so laid back and friendly, scientists at Sage College in Troy, NY just might have your answer. It isn’t just the vitamin D in the sunshine or the endorphins through physical exertion; it might simply be the dirt.

Research done by Dorothy Matthews and Susan Jenks suggest that Mycobacterium Vaccae, a common bacteria that people breathe and ingest when they’re around soil may not only decrease anxiety but may also increase intelligence as well as the ability to learn.

Matthews and Jenks injected dead strains of the bacteria into mice, spurring neurons to greatly increase their output of serotonin. The immediate effect of this output(sort of like a subtle version of taking Ecstasy) was that the mice experienced decreased anxiety levels. Because serotonin plays a role in learning, Matthews and Jenks wondered what would happened if the mice were injected and then allowed to run a maze.
To test this, Matthews and Jenks had two groups of mice; the experimental group was fed live strains of the bacteria while the control group was fed a normal diet. Both groups were tested in a maze and the results were impressive. The injected mice navigated the maze twice as fast as the control mice and with much less demonstrated anxiety.

The mice were retested twice after the bacterium was removed from their diet. Immediately afterward, they weren’t quite as adept, but still got through the maze much faster than the control group. Three weeks later, the mice were a little faster, but not enough to be significantly interesting. What this could mean is that even though the bacteria were out of their systems, they still retained the benefits of having been temporarily ‘smarter’. What this could mean for humans, is that you should get outside as often and for as long as possible. Or cut out the middle man and simply sprinkle dirt over your next meal.

In another study, conducted by researchers at the University of Bristol and University College London, writing for Neuroscience in 2007, researchers found the bacteria to have an antidepressant effect on the mive. This bacterium has also been linked to the treatment of leprosy, tuberculosis and Raynaud’s disease.
In our neat freak, clean obsessed culture, it's good to see an acknowledgement that bacteria aren't bad, and in fact can help you lead a better life.

www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/67146.php
www.physorg.com/news193928997.html