Unlock the Power of Nature: Discover how spending time outdoors can boost beneficial bacteria in your gut, leading to improved immune responses and overall health.
The article discusses the concept of “good nature” and its impact on human health. The author, Kathy Willis, explores the idea that interacting with nature can have a positive effect on our microbiota, which in turn can influence our immune system.
Willis presents several studies that suggest that exposure to environmental microbiota can modulate our gut microbial ecology and influence our immune system. For example:
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A study involving teenagers found that those who lived in areas surrounded by more diverse vegetation had lower levels of allergy markers in their blood.
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A study involving elderly Finnish participants found that those who lived in areas with more diverse vegetation had a reduced abundance of pathogenic bacteria in their gut and a reduced occurrence of inflammatory bowel disease.
However, the article notes that these studies have some limitations, such as lacking blind controls. To address this issue, Willis highlights a recent placebo-controlled double-blinded test conducted by Maja Roslund and colleagues. In this study:
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Children aged 3-5 played in one of two types of sandpits for up to two hours per day over a 28-day period.
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One sandpit had been enriched with a microbially diverse soil mixture, while the other was microbially poor with no soil.
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The results showed that children who played in the soil-enhanced sand had a significant shift in their skin microbial diversity and an increase in anti-inflammatory responses (Il-10) and a decline in pro-inflammatory responses (Il-17).
The article concludes by highlighting the potential benefits of interacting with nature-derived microbiota, such as reducing allergy markers, improving gut health, and modulating immune responses. However, it also notes that more research is needed to understand how long-term interaction with these microbiota can influence human health.
Some key points from the article include:
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Interacting with nature can have a positive effect on our microbiota.
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Exposure to environmental microbiota may modulate our gut microbial ecology and influence our immune system.
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Studies have shown associations between exposure to environmental microbiota and improved immune responses, but more research is needed to establish causality.
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The benefits of interacting with nature-derived microbiota may be short-term and require ongoing interaction to maintain.
Overall, the article suggests that there is a growing body of evidence supporting the idea that good nature has health benefits for humans.
