10 reasons to spend more time outdoors
Health / / December 19, 2019
Stay in nature may be prevention of many diseases associated with a sedentary lifestyle.
1. It improves short-term memory
The researchers found that walking in nature useful sightseeingThe Cognitive Benefits of Interacting With Nature.. The participants underwent a short test on memorization, and then they were divided into two groups. Some went for a walk in the arboretum, and the other on the city streets. When he returned, participants were tested again. It turned out that the results of those who walk on the nature, improved by almost 20%. But the walk is almost no impact on the results of the city.
A similar conclusion was reached by researchers studying the effect of walking in patients with depressionInteracting with Nature Improves Cognition and Affect for Individuals with Depression..
2. It relieves stress
When we are in the woods, we have reduced heart rate and levels of cortisol - a hormone that is considered an indicator of stressPreventive medical effects of nature therapy.. In Japan, for stress relief, even prescribed "forest bath"
Effect of forest bathing trips on human immune function..And the office staff stress is reduced, even if you just have in the office window overlooking the countrysideThe influence of forest view through a window on job satisfaction and job stress..
3. It reduces inflammation
Inflammation associated with autoimmune disorders, bowel disease, depression and cancer. Scientists found that after staying in the forest in the body decreases as the level of inflammation in youngEffects of short-term forest bathing on human health in a broad-leaved evergreen forest in Zhejiang Province, China.And the elderlyTherapeutic effect of forest bathing on human hypertension in the elderly..
4. This removes the mental fatigue
Surely you know the feeling when brain as stalls and you no matter what you can not concentrate. This condition is known as mental fatigue. Relax and get back into shape will stay on the natureThe restorative benefits of nature: Toward an integrative framework.. According to studies, people feel better even at the sight of nature imagesThe Cognitive Benefits of Interacting With Nature..
5. It helps fight depression and anxiety
Walking through the woods reduce anxiety and bad temper and can be used as a supplement to the course of treatment of depressionInteracting with Nature Improves Cognition and Affect for Individuals with Depression.. Moreover, the positive effect is enhanced if during the walk to be near water. Also useful exercise in nature. They improve mood and raise self-esteem.
6. It is useful to view
Scientists have found that outdoor recreation in children reduces the risk of myopiaOutdoor activity reduces the prevalence of myopia in children..
Taiwanese researchers watched two schools located near where the number of sufferers shortsightedness children were about the same. They asked the management of one school, to students at recess spent more time on the street. A year later, the proportion of myopic children in this school was 8.41%, and the second - 17.65%Outdoor Activity during Class Recess Reduces Myopia Onset and Progression in School Children..
7. This improves concentration
In one experiment, the researchers gave participants tedious tasks, exhausting concentration. Then, one group of participants to take a walk in nature, the other in the city, and the third just relaxing, going out anywhere. After some time, all the participants have completed the task to find and fix errors. The best results were shown by those who walk on the natureRestorative Effects of Natural Environment Experiences..
Walking even help children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It has been found that it is easier to concentrate after a 20-minute walk in the parkChildren With Attention Deficits Concentrate Better After Walk in the Park..
8. It helps to think creatively
Imagine a treatment without side effects, accessible to everyone, which also improve your Creative skills. All this makes a stay in the countryside.
According to research, those who are on nature for four days, creative thinking in solving problems is improved by 50%Creativity in the Wild: Improving Creative Reasoning through Immersion in Natural Settings..
9. This reduces the pressure
Japanese researchers have found that a walk in the woods not only reduce stress hormone levels by 15%, but also lower blood pressureThe physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan..
10. This can become a cancer prevention
Although there is no exact evidence, according to preliminary data stay on the nature, especially in the woods, it stimulates the production of anti-cancer proteinForest bathing enhances human natural killer activity and expression of anti-cancer proteins..
Also, scientists in Japan have discovered that in areas with a lot of forest mortality from cancer belowRelationships Between Percentage of Forest Coverage and Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMR) of Cancers in all Prefectures in Japan..