From: "Rich Gauszka" 

You were clear the first time. I just added the dirt/immune system to your
response as I had neglected to add that in my initial post.


"Mark"  wrote in message
news:461075f1$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> Sorry Rich, my "makes sense" was supposed to agree with the
new findings
> cited. 
>
> "Rich Gauszka"  wrote in message
> news:461073f4$1{at}w3.nls.net...
>>I had read articles before that mentioned the importance of playing in the
>>dirt to the development of a young child's immune system. This was the
>>first study I saw that mentioned dirt with serotonin and depression
>>
>> Mark wrote:
>>> Makes sense, us slightly older people were happy as larks as kids,
>>> touching toads, capturing frogs, playing in clay, making dams, tasting
>>> rocks etc et.al.
>>>
>>> Today's kids have parents following them around with anti-bacterial
>>> wipes...
>>>
>>> "Rich Gauszka" 
wrote in message
>>> news:46107176$1{at}w3.nls.net...
>>>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6509781.stm
>>>>
>>>> Exposure to dirt may be a way to lift mood as well as
boost the immune
>>>> system, UK scientists say.
>>>>
>>>> Lung cancer patients treated with "friendly"
bacteria normally found in
>>>> the soil have anecdotally reported improvements in their quality of
>>>> life.
>>>>
>>>> Mice exposed to the same bacteria made more of the brain's
"happy"
>>>> chemical serotonin, the Bristol University authors told the journal
>>>> Neuroscience.
>>>>
>>>> Common antidepressants work by boosting this brain chemical.
>>>>
>>>> A lack of serotonin is linked with depression in people.
>>>>
>>>> The scientists say more work is now needed to determine if the
>>>> bacterium Mycobacterium vaccae has antidepressant properties through
>>>> activation of serotonin neurons.
>>>>
>>>> Lead researcher Dr Chris Lowry 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."
>>>>
>>>> The work could also help experts' understanding of why an
imbalance in
>>>> the immune system leaves some individuals vulnerable to
mood disorders
>>>> like depression, he added.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>

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