Hello ,I have neglected my garden this spring, telling myself it is more important to finish my current book project.
But new science indicates getting my fingers in the dirt might be the best thing for me. Studies show a certain bacteria in soil boosts your mood, reduces anxiety and helps you learn
better.
The special ingredient, Mycobacterium vaccae, occurs naturally in dirt and studies on both humans and mice show that breathing it, or ingesting it on a vegetables like lettuce or carrots causes increased production of the brain chemicals serotonin
and norepinephrine.
These are the neurotransmitters targeted by anti-depressant drugs. They have also shown to improve focus and help you live longer.
Recent studies on mice, show improved concentration, lower stress and and increased cognitive ability. The effects of the bacteria lasted up to three weeks.
In a study conducted by Associate professor of biology at The Sage
Colleges, Dorothy Matthews, mice exposed to the bacteria by nibbling peanut butter laced with the live bacterium negotiated a maze twice as fast as mice in the control group.
Gardeners all over will be saying, "I told you so." But it's nice when science backs up something many of us believe to be true. Mary O’Brien, an oncologist at Royal Marsden Hospital in London first noticed the effects of Mycobacterium vaccae when created a serum out of the bacteria and gave it to lung-cancer patients, hoping it might boost their immune systems. Instead, the patients reported increased
vitality, fewer cancer symptoms and less pain.
"If you think about it, when we look at our evolutionary history, we spent a lot of time as hunter-gatherers, or even more recently in agriculture, where we had lots of contact with the soil," says Dr. Matthews. "It's only been the last 100 years or so that we've become more urbanized and are eating our foods in a different
way."
She suggests spending time outdoors and interacting with nature - taking walks in the woods or gardening or playing - may play a role in the way we learn and help reduce our anxiety as well.
So that's where I'll be this weekend. Out in the garden. Have a good one!
And speaking of books, The UPS man delivered a box yesterday, containing Advanced Reader's Copies IRENA'S CHILDREN. These are rough paperbacks released months before the actual book comes out. They give reviewers a chance to preview the book.
I will hold a drawing next week and raffle off one copy to a lucky subscriber! Stay
tuned.
Thanks for you time! Have you read a great book? Tell me about it. Have a burning question? Let me know. Until next week.... If you know someone who might enjoy my newsletter or books, please forward this
e-mail. I will never spam you or sell your email address, you can unsubscribe below anytime with a single mouse click. To find out more about my books, how I help students, teacher and librarians, visit my website at www.MaryCronkFarrell.com. My best, Mary
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