Getting your hands dirty with soil may seem like a bad idea, but it's actually very beneficial, not just for children but for adults too. It improves mood, protects against asthma, allergies, and even Crohn's disease. It reduces stress and strengthens the immune system. Furthermore, being in contact with soil and plants promotes what is known in psychology as: biophilia, that is, the natural human tendency to feel good when connected with nature.
A research team fromUniversity of Helsinki,Finnish Institute of Natural Resources and University of Tampere published a study in which:
- healthy people have done indoor gardening for a month, using a microbe-rich potting soil similar to natural soil;
- this led to increased bacterial diversity on the skin and higher levels of anti-inflammatory molecules in the blood compared to a control group that used a nearly sterile potting soil.
But let's look in detail at the main benefits that come from getting your hands dirty working the land.
Improve your mood
A bacterium called Mycobacterium vaccaeSome studies suggest that contact with this microorganism can stimulate the production of serotonin, the neurotransmitter linked to the feeling of well-being.
This is why activities like gardening or vegetable gardening often make us feel more relaxed and positive.
Reduces stress
Working with the land:
- lower the cortisol (stress hormone)
- promotes concentration and calm
This is one of the reasons why horticultural therapy is also used in therapeutic contexts.
Train your immune system
According to the so-called Hygiene hypothesis, some exposure to natural microbes (such as those in the soil) helps the immune system to develop better, especially in children.
It provides cognitive benefits
Manual activities in nature improve:
- caution
- the memory
- creativity
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