Research<\/a> from Konkuk University, Seoul, published in 2025 and using the same soil microbe, found that the inhalation of compounds from soil during horticultural activities helped alleviate depression, reduce stress and enhance relaxation in 30 volunteers. Furthermore, a study<\/a> from the University of Helsinki and University of Tampere in 2018, published in MicrobiologyOpen,<\/em> found that people who handled soil for 20 seconds, three times a day \u2013 then rinsed with water \u2013 had increased diversity in their microbiota, which is thought to have beneficial effects on human health.<\/p>\n The hygiene hypothesis \u2013 the idea that children need to be exposed to germs in order to develop healthy immune systems \u2013 suggests that reduced contact with natural biodiversity and increased hygiene levels are related to an increase in immune\u2010mediated diseases<\/a>, so that\u2019s even more reason to reconnect with your garden.<\/p>\n So what is it about soil that\u2019s so special? According to the Soil Association<\/a>, one teaspoon of healthy soil holds more microbes than all the people on Earth, and studies are increasingly showing how exposure to soil-bound microorganisms can strengthen our immunity.<\/p>\n There are lots of similarities between soil and the human gut \u2013 they contain approximately the same number of active microorganisms<\/a> per gramme of material, although our gut microbiome diversity has decreased dramatically over the years, thanks to our modern lifestyles. Research has shown that increased microbial activity may contribute to increased gut microbial diversity. This is important because gut microbes are key to many aspects of human health.<\/p>\n \u2018Research shows that gardening can be great for our gut health,\u2019 explains Dr Megan Rossi, gut health scientist and founder of The Gut Health Doctor<\/a>. \u2018One study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign<\/a> [2022] compared families who regularly gardened with those who didn\u2019t, and found that the green-fingered families had a more diverse range of gut microbes, which is linked to better overall health, as these microbes play a key role in digestion, immunity and even our mental wellbeing.\u2019<\/p>\n Exposure to garden soil is also thought to build tolerance in your immune system and protect against allergies and asthma<\/a>. Numerous studies<\/a> suggest that exposure to soil in early childhood can help reduce the likelihood of these ailments. So it really does makes sense to listen to your granny and let your kids loose in the garden making mud pies.<\/p>\n \u2018People with a more diverse gut microbiome tend to have stronger, more resilient immune systems, as around 70 per cent of our immune system is found in the gut,\u2019 says Dr Rossi. \u2018Research shows that greater gut diversity \u2013 which can be supported through the microbes found in soil \u2013 is linked to a reduced risk of up to 70 chronic conditions, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes.\u2019<\/p>\n The foods we eat also have a direct effect on our gut microbiome. Currently, there\u2019s a booming interest in regenerative farming, which promotes biodiversity to allow soil, water and nutrients to regenerate themselves, leading to increased levels of nutrients in our food. \u2018We\u2019re starting to understand vital links between soil health and human health,\u2019 says Dr Lucy Williamson, registered nutritionist and gut health expert. \u2018Foods grown in healthy soils from nature-based farming systems are richer in microbes \u2013 as well as certain nutrients\u00a0and\u00a0antioxidants \u2013 than those that aren\u2019t grown in this way. It follows that by supporting soil biodiversity in nature, we support the microbiome within us and, ultimately, our overall wellbeing.\u2019<\/p>\n Dr Williamson explains how, in nature-friendly farming systems, where pesticides aren\u2019t used, crops can\u2019t depend on chemicals to protect from disease, so they build their own defences by increasing their antioxidants. \u2018These are like rocket fuel for our gut microbes,\u2019 she says. \u2018If we choose food that\u2019s organic or has been farmed using a regenerative farming system, generally we find that the levels of antioxidants are higher. And eating foods rich in antioxidants is one of the top four ways to look after your gut health.\u2019<\/p>\n But if handling soil is good for our gut, what about current advice that suggests gloves should be worn when gardening, to minimise the risk of disease? \u2018Glove-wearing may be sensible to avoid physical injury, but a tetanus vaccination\u00a0is essential if working with soil,\u2019 advises Kevin Butt, Reader in Ecology at the University of Lancashire. \u2018This helps protect against a deep or soil-infected injury. Nevertheless, the feeling of soil on injury-free hands can be quite therapeutic, particularly when potting plants.\u2019<\/p>\n However, you don’t have to wear gloves for all gardening jobs \u2013 many people prefer gardening with their hands au naturel<\/em>, and find it easier to weed and plant seeds with direct contact with the soil. What\u2019s most important is to use good judgement, always taking care to cover up any cuts, washing your hands thoroughly after gardening, ensuring your jabs are up to date, and always wearing gloves when handling manure, chemicals or working with potentially harmful plants or cutting tools.<\/p>\n And, whether or not you\u2019re getting a mental boost from garden soil, simply being outside can help lift your spirits \u2013 that\u2019s one good reason not to hibernate this winter!<\/p>\n 1: Feel the earth move<\/strong><\/p>\n Handling soil is really therapeutic for mind and body, and it\u2019s often fine to leave the gloves behind. Just exercise your judgement and always wash your hands well afterwards.<\/p>\n Spending as little as two hours a week immersed in nature could help boost your mental wellbeing, as well as allowing you to breathe in microbes from the soil and leaves.<\/p>\n Keeping house plants has been found to increase skin microbiota and help lower the risk of allergies, so clear a shelf and start potting.<\/p>\n \u2018Grounding\u2019 is the increasingly popular practice of walking barefoot over grass or soil, and is said by its proponents to help boost your health and wellbeing. Try taking a barefoot stroll across your lawn once a day.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Getting dirty is good for your health \u2013 it\u2019s official. We\u2019ve long known the benefits of getting out in the garden for helping brighten our spirits \u2013 after all, a dash of winter sunshine and fresh air can do wonders…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":588,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/587"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=587"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/587\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/588"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=587"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Close](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-1180049986-20f6e3f.jpg\" "\\"Close")
<\/p>\nMaking the connection<\/h2>\n
![\"Earthworm](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-653337614-a612650.jpg\" "\\"Earthworm")
<\/p>\nSoil health and food<\/h2>\n
![\"Planting](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2025\/12\/WTDN221122RosieYeomansHeucheraplantingb14-42f3914.jpg\" "\\"WTDN_221122_Rosie_Yeomans_Heuchera_planting_b14\\"")
<\/p>\nTaking care<\/h2>\n
Four ways to get a soil microbe fix<\/h4>\n
\n2: Try forest bathing<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n3: Plant an indoor garden<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n4: Go barefoot<\/strong><\/p>\n