Get Dirty, Be Healthy
“We have so many reasons to get outside and play: Fresh air, Vitamin D, exercise, nurturing a sense of wonder, fascination, and connection with the natural world, and, of course, FUN.
And now we have one more excuse, not just to go outside, but to really get into nature: Dirt can be good for us!”
—Anne Cissel, National Wildlife Federation
Photo credit: Sakorn Sukkasemsakorn
A while ago I listened to a podcast featuring a conversation between singer, song-writer, poet, and author Andrew Peterson and Hebrew scholar and founder of Bible Project Tim Mackie. They were talking about trees. Trees in real life. Trees in literature. Trees in the past. Trees in the future.
Somewhere around minute 31, Andrew made a remark about dirt. He said that soil contains microbes that have antidepressant properties. That playing in the dirt, getting dirt under our nails, tilling the soil (Tillage) with our bare hands is actually good for our mental health.
I was intrigued. Really?! So I’ve been doing a little reading on my own. And it turns out, he’s right (why am I surprised?). Mycobacterium vaccae, a microorganism found in soil, triggers the release of serotonin which does all kinds of good things for our body. It improves mood. Increases brain function. Lowers stress. Lifts depression. Reduces inflammation. Improves appetite and digestion. The list goes on.
But, and in the timeless words of Levar Burton, you don’t have to take my word for it; go read for yourself the benefits of spending more time outside in the dirt.
How to Get High on Soil (The Atlantic)
It’s in the Dirt! Bacteria in Soil Make Us Happier, Smarter (National Wildlife Federation)
Physiological Responses of Adults during Soil-mixing Activities Based on the Presence of Soil Microorganisms: A Metabolomics Approach (American Society for Horticultural Science)
Oh, and here’s the link to the podcast I referenced in case you want to listen.
Join our upcoming Forest Walk and experiment for yourself the healthy, healing benefits of nature.
