HOW SPENDING TIME IN NATURE BENEFITS YOUR HEALTH

 

You may have noticed the peace you feel after a walk in the park or a hike in the woods. There's science behind this. Being in nature causes many changes in the body. For example, stress hormones are reduced, blood pressure is balanced, and the digestive system improves.

 

You don't need to trek for hours to experience these benefits. Just spend half an hour in nature and you'll notice its effects. This means that going for a walk to the park during lunch time and sometimes eating lunch while sitting in the park can also be beneficial for your body and mind.

IT IS BENEFICIAL FOR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH

Seeing nature like green trees, calms the autonomic nervous system, lowering blood pressure and heart rate. This helps relieve stress and benefits health, as shown by studies.

 

You don't have to go to the forest—walking in any park can help. A UK study of nearly 20,000 people found that spending 120 minutes a week in greenery supports physical and mental health.

 

Greenery is vital for life, offering crucial environmental benefits like air purification and temperature regulation, and improving human physical and mental health through stress reduction. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and harmful pollutants like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide, releasing fresh oxygen.

 

The benefits of spending time in nature are so clear that many places have begun "green social prescribing" initiatives, connecting people with nature to improve their physical and mental health. Initial results suggest benefits for both happiness and health.

YOUR HORMONES RETURN TO THEIR NORMAL LEVELS

Time in nature relaxes the hormonal system, reducing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This lowers bodily tension and boosts the immune system.

 

A study found that when people who stayed in a hotel room for three consecutive days in the scent of Japanese cypress (Hinoki) oil, their adrenaline hormone levels decreased significantly and the number of natural killer cells in the blood increased significantly.

 

These natural killer cells are the same ones that fight viruses in the body. The study found that levels of these cells remained elevated for two weeks after exposure to the fragrance. "Nature calms the parts that need calming and strengthens the parts that need strengthening," says Ming Kuo, a professor at the University of Illinois.

 

They say that a three-day weekend spent in nature has a profound effect on our virus-fighting system, which remains about 24 percent more active than normal even a month later. They also suggest that even brief periods spent in nature can have small but lasting effects.

SMELLING NATURE IS JUST AS POWERFUL AS SEEING OR HEARING.

Breathing in nature's scents is just as effective, as they connect directly to our brains and evoke mental calm, positive emotions, and memories. Just as we find solace in seeing or hearing nature, the scent of trees and soil releases biological compounds into our bodies that can reduce stress.

 

Willis says pine is a good example. "The scent of a pine forest can calm you down in just 90 seconds, and the effect lasts for about 10 minutes," she said.

GOOD BACTERIA REACH THE BODY

Nature not only soothes the mind but also strengthens the body's microbiome. The good bacteria in soil and plants are beneficial for our bodies. "These are the good bacteria we spend money on probiotic medicines or drinks for," says Willis.

 

Professor Ming Kuo, who has studied susceptibility to infections and their impact on mental health, says that inhaling certain natural bacteria can improve mood. Antimicrobial chemicals from plants, known as phytoncides, may help combat disease.

 

Infection scientist Dr. Chris van Tulkens says, "Nature is an environment that activates the body's immune system." He lets his children play in the mud in the woods so that these soil particles can enter their bodies through their noses and mouths.

 

BRING NATURE CLOSER TO YOU.

Willis says that even a small touch of nature at home can have an impact. Flowers like white or yellow roses have been found to have the most calming effect on brain activity.

 

For fragrance, use a diffuser with essential oils like pinene, which helps relax the mind. If this is not possible, then looking at pictures of forests or greenery can also help.

 

Research shows that looking at nature photos on a laptop or simply admiring a green scene can produce the same calming brain waves and reduce stress. "Every little bit of nature helps," says Professor Ming Kuo.