Who has not felt better after spending time in nature, whether backpacking in the wilderness or eating lunch in a city park? Science confirms what we knew instinctively: being in nature heals.
Being in Nature Improves Health
Research from the University of East Anglia found that being in nature reduced the risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, preterm birth, stress, and high blood pressure.
Exercise helps reduce various health risks. Being in nature encourages exercise (walking along the shore of the ocean, hiking through the forest, swimming in a lake). The research found that exercising in nature provides additional benefits by reducing the perceived levels of exertion.
Being in Nature Improves Brain Function
A 2019 Frontiers In Psychology article reported on the positive effects of nature on cognitive performance. A study at Stanford, California supports the idea that being nature improves brain function. A recent review of hundreds of studies has found evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship that being in nature led to improvements in attention span.
Being in Nature Improves Your Mood and Reduces Your Stress
In a research paper, scientist Ryan Lumber, Miles Richardson, and David Sheffield found that being close to nature evokes positive emotions and a recent study, published in The Journal of Positive Psychology, found that even spending as little as five minutes outdoors was linked to significant mood boost. A study from the University of Exeter Medical School in England found that, on average, the people in the study who moved to greener areas experienced an immediate improvement in mental health.
Being in Nature Improves Your Mood and Reduces Your Stress
In a research paper, scientist Ryan Lumber, Miles Richardson, and David Sheffield found that being close to nature evokes positive emotions and a recent study, published in The Journal of Positive Psychology, found that even spending as little as five minutes outdoors was linked to significant mood boost. A study from the University of Exeter Medical School in England found that, on average, the people in the study who moved to greener areas experienced an immediate improvement in mental health.
Being in Nature Improves Your Mood and Reduces Your Stress
In a research paper, scientist Ryan Lumber, Miles Richardson, and David Sheffield found that being close to nature evokes positive emotions and a recent study, published in The Journal of Positive Psychology, found that even spending as little as five minutes outdoors was linked to significant mood boost. A study from the University of Exeter Medical School in England found that, on average, the people in the study who moved to greener areas experienced an immediate improvement in mental health.
Now that you know that being in nature has so many positive effects on your health, let’s pack a picnic and go play frisbee in the park!
To your health.
Dianne Hinton NP, PA, IFM-C
