Get dirty, get smart

Bacteria have a bad reputation which in many cases is well deserved. Certain bacteria behave in such a way that makes them poor dinner companions at best and lethal agents at worst. The unfortunate thing is that other more salubrious bacteria get tarred with the bad-boy bacteria brush. We all know that there are good bacteria in the gut but here we are going to talk about a good bacterium that lives in the soil. This is not just a bacterium that is good for your plants and vegetables but in fact this bacterium can actually make you smarter. It goes by the unprepossessing name Mycobacterium vaccae (M. vaccae) and it occurs naturally in soil. Previous research has shown that this bacterium can cause the growth of some neurons in the brain and cause release of the anxiety relieving chemical serotonin. Since serotonin plays a role in learning researchers wondered whether M. vaccae might improve learning. To test this they fed peanut butter laced with M. vaccae to mice and compared their results on maze running to mice that had not been fed the bacterium. The results showed that mice fed the bacteria ran the maze twice as fast and demonstrated less anxiety behaviours. Three weeks later the bacteria fed mice had returned to normal suggesting that the brain boosting effect is temporary. It all happens because M. vaccae stimulates the immune system in such a way that activates clusters of neurons in the brain stem called the Raphe nuclei. The Raphe nuclei in turn stimulates parts of the brain that regulate mood as well as a region called the hippocampus which Deals with spatial memory. It all means that kids at school should be encouraged to get their hands dirty; it will reduce anxiety and improve their learning ability.Meanwhile if you visit Meijer Ad that contains mostly likewise discounts with Winn Dixie Ad you surely have a range like ALDI Ad.