Being surrounded by nature can be very peaceful. Many people assume it’s due to the quiet environment and beautiful scenery. Research has proven that nature can improve health in many ways. As we constantly search for the next big tool in health management, what if it was under our nose the whole time? With urbanization rapidly increasing, researchers rush to build their case in favor of keeping green space accessible. A physical connection to green space and nature is an important part of health and its importance should not be underestimated. If you are interested in learning more about nature’s role in health management, I invite you to read the full article.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: e360.yale.edu

Health is very important, but hard to master for some. The journey to a healthy lifestyle can be overwhelming due to the different sources of information, different regimens or approaches, and products available. Diet, medical care, and exercise are the first things that come to mind when discussing health management. Although those are key factors, there are more ways people can stay healthy. The good news is there is a new way to stay healthy that is free and simple. This method involves spending time surrounded by green space and nature.

If you like to go for walks and spend time in the great outdoors, you may have experienced some boosts in your health. Nature can be pretty to look at, but there are more noteworthy advantages related to health management. According to Jim Robbins of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, having a connection to nature is essential for a healthy lifestyle. Research has shown that exposure to green space can help control hypertension and be good for the immune system . Nature can also produce positive mental effects. Robbins states, “Attention Deficit Disorder and aggression lessen in natural environments, which also help speed the rate of healing. In a recent study, psychiatric unit researchers found that being in nature reduced feelings of isolation, promoted calm, and lifted mood among patients.”

If we can connect these positive effects to nature, why has the immersion of nature not been promoted for health management? Since researcher experienced great difficulty proving the exact reason nature is beneficial to health, the findings have not been widely accepted. Many believe the actual factor that produces the positive effects on health goes deeper than visual exposure; Japanese researchers believed that the inhalation of select aerosols are responsible for the relaxing effects. There has been a sizeable amount of research conducted on the topic that show health benefits across different demographics such as race/ ethnicity, income, and general health status. The latest breakthrough on the topic is knowledge that a person must spend at least two hours a week exposed to green space or nature in order to reap the associated health benefits.

To promote the use of nature as a health management tool, government officials, employers, experts, and researchers work together to make green spaces easily accessible. Everyone has access to outside, so how could accessibility be a problem? With urban living becoming more favorable, we can expect to see the amount of green space decrease over time. This is also a socioeconomical issue since lower income urban environments typically have few quality playgrounds if any. To address this need, city and government officials are working to create and enhance parks and playgrounds. In addition, some states have adopted a Scandinavian health management approach where students have a bulk of their lessons in an open, natural setting to increase exposure. Lastly, employers are making green spaces more accessible for employees since they spend a large amount of time at the workplace.

There is still more research to be done to better understand why the exposure to nature produces such benefits. The conversation surrounding implementation needs to be further discussed as well. It has been proven that a connection to the natural world is an essential part of health management, so plan to spend more time outdoors.

To learn more about the great effects of nature and why it is important for health, read the full article at the Yale 360 website.

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