Spending time in nature, in the sunshine and around plants has long been known to be healthy. While the mood-boosting effects of nature exposure are well-known, spending time in green spaces can also benefit numerous bodily functions and systems in unexpected ways, like lowering your blood pressure to giving you better sleep.
Here are some of the unexpected ways observing green spaces can positively impact your health.
Lower blood pressure
According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly half of all Americans have high blood pressure. However, spending time observing nature and being outside have been found to lower blood pressure.
People who live in a close relationship with nature and spend higher amounts of time in green spaces often have lower levels of stress. Lowering the stress you experience by spending time observing green spaces can reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure and connected health conditions.
Increased focus
According to the American Psychological Association, there are many cognitive benefits to spending time outdoors. Being exposed regularly to natural environments has been found to improve memory and attention.
The same source says that prolonged time in urban environments can lead to attention deficits. In various tests created to explore the connection between cognitive function and exposure to nature, subjects had better recall, increased attention and decreased mistakes when completing tasks when exposed to the outdoors.
In short, scientists are finding more and more evidence that time spent outdoors greatly increases your focus and cognitive function. If you are struggling to get through your workday or complete daily tasks, spending a few minutes outside might be just what you need to improve your focus.
Reduced risk of chronic conditions
Time spent observing green spaces has also been found to help reduce your risk of chronic conditions such as cancer, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, being still or sedentary for too much of your life increases your risk of chronic diseases. Moderate exercise on the other hand has been found to reduce your risk of developing a chronic disease.
Spending time outdoors is connected with a more active lifestyle. Getting outside more often can motivate you to exercise and move your body in new ways. By increasing your physical activity and improving your immune health, you can reduce your risk of developing a chronic condition.
Reduced risk of nearsightedness
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is most often seen in people who spend large amounts of time inside. When looking at objects that are close to you, such as screens from phones and computers or books, a person can increase the risk of developing nearsightedness.
Engaging in activities beyond looking at screens can help to maintain and even improve your eye health. Children who spend time outdoors are less likely to develop nearsightedness as they age, but people of any age can benefit from spending more time in green spaces.
Better immune health
Spending time outdoors can impact your immune health, and your ability to fight off various illnesses. Studies have found that the positive effects of nature on your immune system include anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects.
More than half of all the body’s cells that produce antibodies are found in the bowel wall, especially in the small intestine and appendix. Spending time outdoors can help to expose your body to new types of bacteria and organisms that can diversify your gut microbiome.
Spending time in nature also helps you to exercise regularly and reduce stress, all of which can improve your body’s functions in many ways, including your immune responses.
Better sleep
If you are an insomniac or struggle with sleep, then you have probably tried a variety of solutions. These solutions might include reducing screen time, trying meditation or yoga, or taking a natural sleep aid such as melatonin or CBD.
According to researchers, living in close proximity to green spaces is associated with better sleep patterns. This is because of reduced stress and increased exercise.
People over the age of 65 showed a particular benefit from spending time in nature. This can help older adults to improve their health and resiliency by improving the quality of their sleep.
Natural relief from chronic pain
According to studies done in the Seoul, South Korea Metropolitan area, participating in a forest therapy group resulted in decreases in pain and depression and increases in quality of life for participants.
Spending time in nature allows you to reduce your stress and relax your body — both activities can help reduce the effects of chronic pain.
In addition, many chronic pain conditions are caused by problems such as inflammation. Time spent in nature can improve gut health and reduce the effects of inflammation on the body.
Potential risks of outdoor time
While spending time in nature has many benefits for your physical and mental health, there are also potential risks of outdoor time. It is important to understand these risks so that you can enjoy the benefits of the outdoors without causing negative health effects.
Eye damage
According to the Cleveland Clinic, ultraviolet rays can cause both short- and long-term damage to your eyes. One example is photokeratitis — a painful and temporary condition caused by overexposure to ultraviolet rays. In short, this condition is a sunburn for your eyes.
Increased exposure over the course of your life to ultraviolet rays can put you at a higher risk of eye damage, cataracts and other eye conditions.
Wearing protective eyewear and limiting your amount of time looking in the direction of the sun can help to reduce your risk of developing sun-related eye disease. If you believe that you are suffering from an eye condition, it is important that you make regular appointments with an eye doctor so that you can be assessed and treated as necessary.
Skin damage
According to researchers at Mount Sinai in New York City, a single, severe sunburn can be enough to cause skin cancer in a person with a genetic predisposition for that condition. This means that for many people, keeping an eye out for their skincare and dermatological health is vital.
Limiting your time in direct sunlight, wearing strong, sun-blocking lotion and understanding when you have gotten too much sun are very important for preventing dangerous skin conditions.
If you are worried about any spots or moles that have appeared on your body, or if you have a family history of skin cancer, it is important that you see a dermatologist regularly.
How much outdoor time do you need?
According to a study published in Scientific Reports, researchers recommend spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature to promote good health and well-being. Spending this extra time outdoors in natural green environments can help to reduce your risk of being diagnosed with conditions such as diabetes, mental illnesses, inflammation and cardiovascular disease.
Spending an adequate amount of time outdoors can also reduce the risk of myopia or nearsightedness in children. Neighborhoods that have larger amounts of green spaces often report better health and well-being outcomes.
Spending at least two hours a week outdoors, if not more, can have an outstanding positive impact on your life and on your health and well-being.
Whether you are going to the beach, going for a run to the park, or spending time outside reading or gardening, your time spent outside can have widespread positive effects on your health. Over time, you will begin to see the positive impact that green spaces can have on your mental health and your physical health.