​Benefits of Nature I constantly remind my readers to be ou | factsabouthealth

​Benefits of Nature

I constantly remind my readers to be outdoor as much as possible, to breathe fresh air, to walk barefoot on the ground. This is all you need to stay in shape.

From the book by David Perlmutter “Brainwashing. A program for clear thinking, strengthening relationships with people and developing good habits".

Nature influences our ability to feel balance, thoughtfulness and empathy, and at the same time helps our health - in particular, reduces inflammation and stress hormones. In fact, it helps to rewire the brain, improve concentration and long-term satisfaction.

Nature Heals

A 2011 article outlines the results of a follow-up of 278 patients at a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation center in the mountains of Norway. The results were compared for patients who could look out of the windows at nature, and those who saw only buildings.

In 2012, experts from Amsterdam set up reception rooms in the hospital with either real plants, or with their images, or no greenery at all. The stress level in patients decreased in the first two cases and did not change in the third.

A study by the Mayo Clinic found that a simple mixture of nature sounds and music can reduce anxiety and pain in patients.

Shinrin-yoku

Shinrin-yoku roughly translates to "immersion in the forest atmosphere" or "forest bath". The practice of shinrin yoku (spending time in nature for the purpose of healing) has developed in Japan since the 1980s.

Researchers, mainly from Japan and South Korea, have described in the scientific literature the benefits of spending time under the forest canopy.

One of the ways nature affects our health is through smells. Research has linked sense of smell to immune function, mood, cognitive ability, and social behavior. The smell of plants in itself has a healing effect.