Saturday's Start

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Saturday's Start
16
Sat, 04-07-2007 - 8:12am

Good morning! What's everyone got going on this fine day? Hope all of us who have a bug of some kind will be over it shortly. Wishing good weather for everyone too.


No great words of wisdom this morning, but I did read an interesting article about gardening and happiness that should interest any of you gardeners out there.


Can getting dirty lift your mood?



Posted: Apr 2nd 2007 12:00PM by Bethany Sanders
Filed under: Emotional Health, General Health, Health in the Media


Just in time for spring gardening comes this headline: A recent study found that the bacteria Mycobacterium accae, commonly found in soil, increased serotonin levels in the brains of mice. A lack of serotonin is thought to cause depression in humans. Researchers became interested in the bacteria after cancer patients being treated with it began unexpectedly reporting lifted moods and better quality of life.

The study was small, but researchers hope to look into the connection between the bacteria, healthy immune systems and depression to find out if there would be benefit from developing treatment options from this or other kinds of bacteria. Gardeners already know that digging in the dirt and soaking up the springtime sunshine make them feel happy and rejuvenated, but as Dr. Chris Lowry -- lead author of this study -- says, "They (these studies) leave us wondering if we all shouldn't be spending more time playing in the dirt."

Treatment of mice with a ‘friendly’ bacteria, normally found in the soil, altered their behavior in a way similar to that produced by antidepressant drugs, reports research published in the latest issue of Neuroscience.


These findings, identified by researchers at the University of Bristol and colleagues at University College London, aid the understanding of why an imbalance in the immune system leaves some individuals vulnerable to mood disorders like depression.


Dr Chris Lowry, lead author on the paper from Bristol University, said: "These studies help us understand how the body communicates with the brain and why a healthy immune system is important for maintaining mental health. They also leave us wondering if we shouldn’t all be spending more time playing in the dirt."


Interest in the project arose after human cancer patients being treated with the bacteria Mycobacterium vaccae unexpectedly reported increases in their quality of life. Lowry and his colleagues reasoned that this effect could be caused by activation of neurons in the brain that contained serotonin.


When the team looked closely at the brains of mice, they found that treatment with M. vaccae activated a group of neurons that produce the brain chemical serotonin. The lack of serotonin in the brain is thought to cause depression in people, thus M. vaccae’s effects on the behavior of mice may be due to increasing the release of serotonin in parts of the brain that regulate mood.


The new research supports this hypothesis, but future studies will be designed to determine if M. vaccae, other bacteria, or pharmaceutical compounds have antidepressant properties through activation of this group of serotonin neurons.


       ~~Rhonda~~


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 04-07-2007 - 8:17am

I am already dressed for Zumba with my new "Powered by Zumba" T-shirt on. Wish the sleeves were a little longer, but someday soon I will no longer have to worry about that -- I keep telling myself. Getting ready to have a little hot tea and cereal, then will head out.


I may have a chance to do a few errands after I clean up and before I head to the nursing home. I have all of Jackson's gifts by the front door, as well as photo albums from Erin's childhood, so I can load them in the car to take to them. I put Tim's Easter card, ever so subtly by the coffee pot, and slid Rob's card under his door. He'll have to wait till tomorrow for his gift bag.


It's sunny and breezy here this morning and only in the low 50's. I'm sneezing a little, but am hoping I'm doing all the right things (except getting over-heated) to get rid of the cold. It should make it to the mid-70's today. Rob and 2 friends swam last night, so I guess it wasn't too bad with the pool heater on.


Have a wonderful day! Can't wait to see "my" baby! :-)



       ~~Rhonda~~


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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2003
Sat, 04-07-2007 - 8:56am

Good morning everyone... Getting ready to go to work...


Planning a walk on the treadmill afterwards... Still too cold (I think) to walk outside.... It is sunny... I feel so sorry for the egg hunters today... 13degreess... brrrr..


Have a great day everyone!

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Deb/MN



 

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-08-2001
Sat, 04-07-2007 - 9:28am

Good Morning,

Only 34 here this morning and the sun just doesn't want to come out. I was awake early this morning and should have gotten out of bed to do a few things but couldn't quite get myself to do that. I did finally get up and get on the treadmill. After several days of dreadful eating I needed to get back at least the fitness portion of the equation. I spoke to the associate in the office about everything that had gone on and how I was thinking about leaving. Although she was very sorry to hear that that thought was even in my head she did offer to do whatever she could to help me find something else. I'm still mulling my options.

Otto has been transported to his day of beauty. He never fully appreciates the effect as the rest of the household after he has dog smell removed. He ran into a canine friend of his (a fellow beagle) and he was able to pass the time with some good doggie sniffing time until he was whisked away for his beauty treatment.

I'm having Easter dinner here tomorrow. 11 of us all together and not quite sure where everyone is going to sit. My table sits 8 comfortably. I have a folding table somewhere just not quite sure where that somewhere is! I need to make a trip to the grocery store and then do some cooking prep for tomorrow. Dinner is going to be fairly uncomplicated and everyone is bringing something so that makes everything a bit more simple. I'm making a homemade angel food cake (just like my grandma used to make!)and I'm going to cut up lots of fruit to serve alongside.

Well better get moving. Hope everyone that's been under the weather is feeling better. Rhonda enjoy that baby today! Hope everyone has a splendid Saturday!

Susan

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-2005
Sat, 04-07-2007 - 10:50am

For some reason ivillage will not allow me into the custom colors or fonts these last few days, anyone else having trouble? Last night after Katie's riding lesson I ran to Target and got some "stuff" to put into the Easter baskets. I bought Katie the DVD, Happy Feet, Rob the Borat (?) DVD, and Billy is getting the 5th season of The Shield on DVD. I bought Katie new green flip flops, hair stuff and candy. The boys will get their DVD's with candy and each will get a gift card for TGIFridays for $25.00. I am out of ideas! I also bought a basket and Katie put that together for Christian. He is the young man (same as Billy - 22) who will be joining us for the day besides our families. Christian has no relationship with his mother and her husband who kicked him out of the house at the age of 15 and his dad lives upstate with his new wife. He has been working for Bill now almost 2 years I think and well there is many a Sunday we have him stay for dinner so it seems only right to have him for Easter. He said yes very quickly and so Katie and I made a basket with some chocolate and jelly beans for him. Today is cleaning and I should have started already but I haven't. I have hard boiled about 20 eggs and I will have Katie color them later this afternoon. I have my turkey in the oven and it should come out around 12:30. I will head upstairs in a minute to get dressed in my cleaning clothes and get to work. Bill, Katie and I are going to dinner tonight with friends so I need everything done early. Tomorrow I want to relax and enjoy the day. Oh Matty is in our back yard working on the start of our driveway.......yeah! Bill is excited about that! Hope everyone had a good day.

cl-Deb

cl-Deb

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 04-07-2007 - 11:30am

That is SO sweet of you to have Christian to your house for Easter dinner. I know it has to mean a lot to him.


Congratulations on the start of your driveway. It's always so nice when projects are FINISHED! Probably won't be long now.



       ~~Rhonda~~


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 04-07-2007 - 11:34am
Bet those are some frozen eggs if they're outside. Too cold for me! Try to keep warm.



       ~~Rhonda~~


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 04-07-2007 - 11:38am

I feel the same about Winiston and Katie's day of beauty as you do about Otto's -- so nice to have that dirty doggie odor gone for a while. At last they'll have theirs Monday. Otto's friends won't know what to think when they have their sniff-a-thon.


You never get a break even on the weekends or holidays. Eleven is a pretty good size group to have over for dinner even if everyone brings something. I hope you get a chance for some "me time" before the weekend is over, particularly after the way the last few days at work were. I still think Sunshine has something on the guy for him to let her get away with calling profane names, special privileges, tattling, slacking off, etc. Unless your boss has the spine to straighten things out, I couldn't tolerate that for long. Hugs to you!



       ~~Rhonda~~


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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2001
Sat, 04-07-2007 - 1:13pm

Good morning gals.

Nancy

"Make Choices that bring you joy"  cl-Patty


 


iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2006
Sat, 04-07-2007 - 5:14pm

Good late afternoon! It is almost 5 pm and I am just getting here. I am pooped especially after teaching the two classes this morning. I guess it was a good way to start the holiday weekend. I am roasting vegetables as I type for the veggie lasagna I am going to put together to bring tomorrow. Found out today that DD will be at brother in laws with her DH and our granddaughter. Still don't know if younger DD will be there...it depends whether her DH is working or not.

Rhonda...I think it is great that you found an exercise you love doing and I love the idea of your zumba shirt. Keep up girlfriend!! Hope you have a wonderful Easter with your "baby".

Thirteen degrees sounds brutal, DEB/Mn. Hope you don't have a long day of work. It was only 29 here this morning and that is cold even for us this time of year.

Susan...with the family growing it seems we have more and more buffets. But, it sure is nice to have a real sit down dinner as much as possible. Glad everyone is chipping in and the menu will not be complicated tomorrow. Hope it is a great day for all. (Looks like that associate really likes you and how nice of her to help you out with whatever you decide.)

DEB...you sure give a lot to the kids for Easter! I remember when it was easy to just get some chocolate, jelly beans and out door playthings like wiffle ball and bat and pails and shovels. Those were the days...LOL! No egg coloring here this year. I will just boil up some eggs for DH and I tomorrow. Just have to have some hard boiled eggs around. Hope you enjoy tomorrow with doing the turkey today. How nice to get a new driveway...we have one and it makes the front of the house look so much nicer.

My head is spinning Nancy thinking about the paper work piling up. It IS amazing how quickly it accumulates. I also realized I am the only one who knows how to file...hmmmm. Glad you are feeling better and on the mend. All I can say is BRRRRR with your cold weather.

Well...Happy Easter all...

Grace

Keep on keeping on!     


Grace  


http://23886
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2001
Sat, 04-07-2007 - 7:49pm
Interesting article, Rhonda,! I hope you enjoy your time with Jackson!!!!

Miss P




 

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