Nurture Your Body With The Benefits Of Nature
By: Olivia Burd
Summer is finally in full swing, which means plenty of sunny days with dreamy weather: the best time of year to be outdoors and soak up nature's health benefits. Dedicating a few minutes of time to get outside has a plethora of benefits, including mental well-being, intake of vitamin D, improved concentration and creativity, and a decrease in screentime.
Life gets stressful and oftentimes we forget about our own mental well-being; stressors make us less willing to focus on ourselves and what we need to be in a good place mentally. A study done on 20,000 participants by The European Centre for Environment and Human Health at the University of Exeter found that “people who spent two hours a week in green spaces were substantially more likely to report good health and psychological well-being than those who don’t” (Robbins). Just two hours of outdoor time per week can lower blood pressure and stress levels, reduce nervous system arousal, enhance immune system function, increase self-esteem, and improve overall mood. Two hours may sound daunting to those who live a busy lifestyle, but with 168 hours in a week, two hours is substantially more manageable. This could be anything from setting aside time for a sunrise/sunset meditation, laying outside, hiking, or jumping waves in the ocean.
Photography Credits: Dziana Hasanbekava
This particular study also found that just two hours of outdoor time per week can lower blood pressure and stress levels, reduce nervous system arousal, enhance immune system function, increase self-esteem, and improve overall mood. As this type of research continues to make waves, many cities are adding outdoor recreational areas to their towns, which makes getting outside and into nature more accessible.
Holistic medicine, which is often described as a whole-body approach to healthcare, suggests that vitamin D is incredibly healing. Dr. Mercola explains, “There are about 30,000 genes in your body, and vitamin D affects nearly 3,000 of them” (Mercola). When out in direct sunlight, our bodies naturally produce vitamin D, which Dr. Mercola points to as an integral part of maintaining optimal health. According to Healthline Magazine, benefits include calcium absorption for healthy bones and teeth, heightened immune system function, mood regulation, weight loss support, and even cancer prevention, “Keeping your [vitamin D] levels optimized can help prevent at least 16 types of cancer” (Mercola). These findings all point to just how valuable proper vitamin D intake is to taking care of our bodies.
On the other hand, low levels of vitamin D have been linked to multiple serious and life-threatening diseases such as MS, heart diseases like strokes, heart failure, respiratory issues, as well as the risk of autoimmune diseases such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, and even some forms of cancer. It is possible to prevent, or, at the very least, delay the progression of these diseases simply by getting out in the sun. Summer, with its abundant sunlight, is the best season to start taking a few moments out of the day to step outside. Not only will it help at that moment to de-stress, but it will also give great health benefits in the long term.
Photography Credits: Dziana Hasanbekava
Most people occasionally face creativity and mental blocks (also known as burnout), which can lead to increased stress in our lives. An easy fix for these creative roadblocks could be as simple as spending time in nature. Dating back to 1889, philosopher Friedrich Neitzsche wrote, “all truly great thoughts are conceived by walking” (Neitzsche). A study done at Stanford University called the Attention Restoration Theory (ART), confirms this theory by “proving that participants who took the time to go for a walk outside saw more positive effects than those who walked on a treadmill inside”, time outside has the ability to help people regain focus (Schwartz).
It is recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day. Unfortunately, this minimum becomes difficult to reach when we are sitting at home surrounded by technology. Physical activity outdoors in nature presents many health benefits for people of all ages, including decreased risk of obesity, depression, and better cardiovascular health. NEEF recommends creating tech-free zones, setting daily screen time limits, scheduling outdoor time, and remaining present during meals without the distraction of technology.
With a busy schedule, it can be hard to take time to put our health first, but the moments spent in the sunshine are crucial to making sure that we are leading healthy, happy, and fulfilled lives. □
Photography Credits: Dziana Hasanbekava
About the Writer
Olivia is currently enrolled at Arizona State University where she is working to obtain her online bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Gender and Women’s Studies! She has always had a passion for writing and enjoys doing it in her free time as well as for assignments and work. Along with other art forms, such as dance, Olivia enjoys using her skills to represent who she is and share her insights with others.
Article Credits
Olivia’s Instagram: @oliviaburd
Sources:
https://e360.yale.edu/features/ecopsychology-how-immersion-in-nature-benefits-your-health
https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/benefits-vitamin-d
https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/xlm-a0036577.pdf