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The microbes living in our gut have a significant impact on our health, but recent research has shown that the microbes in our environment can also play a crucial role. This suggests that we should spend more time interacting with nature, both indoors and outdoors.
I first learned about this emerging field of science from Professor Gretchen Daily of Stanford University. She mentioned a Finnish study that demonstrated the positive effects of allowing kindergarten-aged children to play in a yard containing “dirt” from the forest floor on their gut microbiome. The study involved 79 children living in urban environments and attending different daycare centers in Finland. The only difference between them was the type of outdoor space available at their daycare centers.
The first type of outdoor space was a typical play area with concrete, gravel, and plastic matting. The second type was a nature-oriented play area with grass, soil, and planted areas. These two types served as a control for the third experimental space, where the concrete and gravel were covered with segments of forest floor and soil from a local coniferous forest.
The children were instructed to play in only one of the three types of yards each day for 28 days. Before and after play, their skin and gut microbiota were measured using genetic sequencing of bacteria from skin swabs and stool samples. Changes in T cells and cytokines in their blood were also measured. These cells and proteins play a crucial role in preventing autoimmune diseases, and their levels can indicate the functioning of the immune system.
The results were remarkable. The children who played in the experimental yard showed a significant increase in the diversity of microbiota on their skin and in their gut compared to those playing in the urban and nature-oriented areas. These were the “good” types of microbiota associated with health benefits. There was also a significant increase in the children’s immunity markers, indicating that they had gained enhanced immunoregulatory pathways. This suggests a reduced risk of immune-mediated diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
This study’s significance cannot be overstated. It suggests that even as an expert in the field of technology journalism, I can benefit from spending more time interacting with nature.
