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 Good news for sloppy housekeepers. According to a new study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry  dirt is good— at least a certain amount of it is.

 It seems our modern world is so antiseptic that it is inhospitable to a host of friendly bacteria that we co-evolved with as a species, and which play a big role in fighting major illness from cancer to depression. They live in our guts and in the modern, industrialized world we have been killing them off, destroying the balance and perhaps increasing the threat of serious physical and mental illness.Turns out that old saying about ” you have to eat a peck of dirt before you die” is right on the money.

 According to Charles Raison, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University.:

“Since ancient times benign microorganisms, sometimes referred to as “old friends,” have taught the immune system how to tolerate other harmless microorganisms, and in the process, reduce inflammatory responses that have been linked to the development of most modern illnesses, from cancer to depression.”

So, put away the clorox and the anti-bacterial soap, and lay off the anti-biotics   Research is now going on to see if these ” old friends” cannot be used to treat the inflammation that lies at the heart of depression and a host of other conditionss.

 Who knew you could fight depression with dirt?  It’s an idea that certainly cheers me up, for sure.

H/T to: Futurity