Are you a nature lover or more of an indoor gal? I know I spend too much time in front of a screen or other electronic devices.
There are many activities one can do. Nevertheless, let’s talk about the positive effects of being outdoors.
Health experts say getting some Vitamin N for nature can reduce stress and insomnia, boost energy, and revitalize health.
What did the health researchers at the University of Michigan find? They recently examined the effects of experience in nature during eight weeks. “We’ve known for decades that being in the presence of nature has positive effects on people, but it was unclear how much exposure.”
During the study’s two-month experiment, participants spent at least 10 minutes, three times a week, connecting with nature in some way.
The participants in the study spent time listening to birds from a balcony, sitting under a tree, or walking a park trail.
Saliva tests analyzed their cortisol levels before and after the natural experience. Their finding showed that a 20-minute “nature pill” significantly reduced stress hormones.
Another positive effect study confirmed that any exposure to nature is good for you. A 2019 study in Scientific Reports revealed that spending two hours a week in nature promotes good physical and mental health, regardless of your activity.
Some of the statistics that connect health with the outdoors:
🌿 Time in nature decreases anxiety and negative thinking and lowers levels of depression and stress
🌱 Outdoor activity improves both mental and physical well-being more than indoor activity
🪴 Time in nature helps to decrease high blood pressure
🧑🏾🎤 People with diabetes who spend more time in nature are more physically active and show better sugar control
✳️ Time in nature, a direct correlation with better cognitive development in schoolchildren
✅ The closer you are to green space, the less you suffer from cardiovascular, mental health, respiratory, neurological, and digestive diseases
It’s easy to swallow the nature pill during the long spring and summer days, and the warm temperatures are inviting. Spring gardening and walking are my go-to outdoor activities.
What is your prescription to enjoy the outdoors?
As always, thank you for reading.
