Is Dirt the New Antidepressant? + Other Stories
Every week, we corral the best wellness stories from around the internet—just in time for your weekend bookmarking. This week: the future of stem-cell therapy; how dirt may improve your mental health; and a glimpse at the chemicals in some popular sunscreens.
"Stem Cells: The Next Frontier"
Industrial Motion Pictures
Stem cell therapy offers incredible hopes for those suffering from paralysis, chronic pain, and heart disease. A new documentary, Stem Cells: The Next Frontier, explores both the amazing potential of stem cell therapy, and the powerful forces that are holding it back.
Dirt Has a Microbiome, and It May Double as an Antidepressant
Quartz
Scientists may have discovered a revolutionary new antidepressant: dirt. Studies indicate that a type of bacteria commonly found in soil may help relieve anxiety and elevate mood. As author Zoë Schlanger points out, this research confirms what gardeners have known for centuries—”gardening is great therapy.”
How Do the Chemicals in Sunscreen Protect Our Skin from Damage?
The Conversation
This article breaks down the chemicals in your sunscreen, and lets you know why you should be wearing it year-round, not just in the summer. Not crazy about putting chemicals on your skin? Here are some clean sunscreens we love.
Researchers Connect Brain Blood Vessel Lesions to Intestinal Bacteria
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Can the bugs in your gut affect the health of your brain? New research from the University of Pennsylvania links intestinal bacteria to blood vessels in the brain, which can cause to strokes and seizures.