It is widely accepted that getting outside in nature and breathing in fresh air is good for our health. While gardening is regularly hailed as being a healthy way to move the body and reduce stress, there's another really good reason being outdoors and gardening in particular, is healthful. Getting our hands dirty exposes us to billions of beneficial microbes known as soil-based organisms or sporebiotics. The modern obsession of being overly sanitary, using bleaching agents to clean our hands and our home, is reducing our exposure to naturally occurring microbes and, according to the hygiene-hypothesis, could be responsible for the ever-increasing cases of allergies. As well as using natural cleaning agents like white vinegar, bicarb and lemon juice, rather than something chemical and aggressively anti-microbial, exposing ourselves more often to the natural microbes in the soil could be a really good antidote to our overly sterile modern world. It has long been known that children exposed to outdoor microbes, raised on farms drinking raw milk, living around animals and being allowed to play in the outdoors, is linked to a more robust immune system. These children also consistently show far lower rates of asthma and allergies.

Healthy soil is full of billions of beneficial micro-organisms and exposure to these microbes happens simply by breathing in soil spores released into the air as we move around the soil and plants. We also inadvertently swallow spores in the air and consume them from our hands and from freshly grown foods.

Eating fresh vegetables and herbs exposes us to a wide array of microbes, adding to the diversity of the super-helpful gut bugs that live in us and on us, which then help all of our internal systems regulate well. A handful of freshly cut spinach could contain over 800 species of bacteria inside and on the leaves.

These soil-based probiotics not only support our own healthy gut microbiome but also help produce antioxidants, both helping to improve immune function. Critically, unlike many shop-bought probiotics, the spore-producing bacteria are able to survive the high acid levels in the human stomach, making them far more robust and effective. These spores activate once inside our system where it’s warm and damp and there’s lots to feed on. As they get activated they create a more favourable environment for our own, indigenous microbes to thrive, helping to crowd out any nasty pathogens that may be trying to take over.

One of the most researched bacterial strains found in compost and soil is Mycobacterium vaccae (M. vaccae), which has been shown to help in mood disorders by supporting the synthesis of serotonin, our feel-good brain chemical. M.vaccae also exerts a very positive influence on our immune system.

Bacillus coagulans, another very common strain in soil, is known to help with digestive symptoms related to IBS such as bloating and bowel issues and reduces upper respiratory issues such as nasal congestion and an itchy nose. Bacillus subtilis, again, commonly found in healthy soil, has been studied for its beneficial effect on blood pressure and cholesterol levels as well as helping crowd out the misplaced microbes associated with small intestinal bacteria overgrowth.

All this from getting out in nature, kicking up some leaves and taking in a big breath through the nose, getting down on your knees and pulling up some weeds. Maybe even not being too particular about washing off a little of the dirt on your organic veg. So what are you waiting for… go and get dirty!

If you're interested in improving your gut health and general health and wellbeing, find out more about our five-day holistic Gut Health Programme here.