1. Scientific studies show that nature rich in vegetation improves your vitality, if you spend at least 20 minutes in the middle of it.
2. People living near green spaces are less likely to be depressed. A 2009 study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that people who lived less than 1 mile from a park or wooded area had less anxiety and depression than those who lived beyond the green space.
3. Exposure to plants and parks increases immunity. In a series of studies, scientists have found that when people spend their time in a natural environment - forests, parks and other places with many trees - they have increased immune function. One cause is phytoncides, compounds that plants emit to protect themselves from rot and insects and that also seem to help people. Among other things, the body produces lower concentrations of cortisol (the stress hormone), has a lower heart rate and lower blood pressure.
4. Sunlight is beneficial. When sunlight reaches the skin, it begins a process that leads to the creation and activation of vitamin D. Studies suggest that this vitamin helps prevent osteoporosis and cancer. In addition, the study found an increased risk of heart attacks in those with low levels of vitamin D.
The amount of sunlight you need depends on your skin tone. People with light skin need about 10 minutes of sunlight a day, while people with darker skin need 15 to twenty minutes of sunlight.
5. Spending time in nature increases the feeling of happiness. In May 2013, more than 10,000 Canadians participated in the David Suzuki Foundation's "30 × 30" nature challenge. The challenge was for those people to spend 30 minutes in nature, every day, for 30 days. At the end of the 30 days, the following results were recorded on the health and well-being of the participants:
👍🏻 reported significant increases in their sense of well-being
👍🏻 they had more energy
👍🏻 feelings of stress and negativity decreased considerably
👍🏻 they had fewer sleep disorders
👍🏻 felt more productive at work
👍🏻 they felt happier.
6. Being in nature increases creativity. A study conducted in 2012 showed that a group of hikers were 50% more creative after spending four days on a hiking trail.
The study's lead researcher (Ruth Ann Atchley) explained that the constant distraction and stress of modern life is a threat that affects our resources. When we are in nature, our minds can give up those threatening responses, which allows us to use our brain resources in a more creative way.
7. Breaks in nature improve memory and cognitive function (the views and sounds of nature are very beneficial for our brain). Research by Dr. Marc Berman and partners at the University of Michigan shows that performance on memory and attention tests improved by 20% after the subjects studied took a break for a walk in a park full of trees. When they took a break to take a walk on a busy street, no cognitive impulse was detected.
We believe that the above convinced you, in case you still needed it, not to stop thinking when it comes to spending more time outdoors. 😎
And if you want to try something new, we offer you the opportunity to participate in a special getaway - "Picnic in the vineyard". A day spent outdoors, less than 90 km from Bucharest, at Velvet Winery. You have the opportunity to taste good wines, with a snack, to lie on a sun lounger by the lake, to socialize and play games in nature. ❤️❤️❤️
Details and registration here: 👉 https://bit.ly/2U3NIN2
Comments