Most Bakersfield parents know about the health benefits of gardening as a family: spending time outdoors, working together, establishing a connection to the food we eat, better nutrition, and many more.
Something not so well known in Bakersfield is that the dirt itself contains beneficial bacteria that can aid in depression, cognitive functioning, and even in fighting some cancers.
Working with soil in Bakersfield – digging, pulling weeds, harvesting vegetables – exposes California kids and parents to a strain of bacteria called mycobacterium vaccae. Recent research reveals that m. vaccae triggers the release of seratonin, which can elevate mood and reduce stress.
In one study, two groups of mice were fed peanut butter sandwiches before finding their way through a difficult maze. One of the groups had m. vaccae spread on the sandwiches. The mice that ingested the bacteria ran the maze twice as fast and exhibited half as many stress behaviors as the mice that didn’t have the bacteria.
Think of Bakersfield kids in the ‘good ole’ days,’ running around on unpaved roads, playing in meadows, forests, and dirt piles, and half of the time probably bare-foot. It is quite a different childhood than the sanitized version that exists in our society today. Children not only need more time out-of-doors, but they need to get dirty! Let your Bakersfield neighbors hear you yell: ‘Kids, go outside and get dirty!’
South Hero, Franklin, and Highgate Center parents may do themselves and their children a favor by adding to their kids’ emotional, physical, and intellectual health by letting them play in the dirt!
My name is JJ Birden and I want to help Bakersfield families raise healthy, happy kids. Issues such as proper nutrition for children and childhood obesity in South Hero concern me. I am the owner of a Saint Albans Bay area home business that sells Xocai XoBiotic Squares.
The following blog post was used as source material for this blog:
Sachs, Naomi, “It’s in the Dirt: Bacteria in soil may make us happier, smarter.” Therapeutic Landscapes Network. (Jan. 24, 2011), http://www.healinglandscapes.org/blog/2011/01/its-in-the-dirt-bacteria-in-soil-makes-us-happier-smarter/ accessed March 14, 2012
Join TeamX88 today!
I am JJ Birden, and I am a Bakersfield-based Xocai artisan chocolate distributor. I joined Xocai in January 2005. I sell the industry-leading Xocai Xe Energy Drink and Xocai XoBiotic Squares online and in Bakersfield, Highgate Center, Franklin, and South Hero. Our valued Saint Albans Bay customers recommend Xocai XoBiotic Squares because Xocai XoBiotic Squares swiss chocolates from Xocai contain antioxidants!.
TeamX88 is also a fantastic Xocai Xe Energy Drink home-based business in the Saint Albans Bay area. California entrepreneurs can supplement their income by cashing in on a high-demand California healthy artisan chocolate market. To learn more about TeamX88, visit http://www.jjbirden.com/.
Call me at 480.824.8318 to own your own Xocai Xe Energy Drink business in Bakersfield, Highgate Center, Franklin, or South Hero.









