Green spaces: living outdoors is the best medicine for iron health

A new report again reveals how exposure to green spaces also reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, premature birth, stress and high blood pressure.

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All green around us and we live better and healthier! Living in nature or spending time outdoors has significant and far-reaching benefits. A lot of studies have now said it, and a new report confirms it once again that reveals how exposure to green spaces also reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, premature birth, stress and high blood pressure. .

Scholars from the University of East Anglia have carried out a review of over 140 scientific studies on the subject involving more than 290 million people.

The research team studied data from 20 countries including the United Kingdom, United States, Spain, France, Germany, Australia and Japan - where Shinrin yoku or 'forest bath' is already a widespread practice.

"Green space" was defined as open and undeveloped land with natural vegetation and urban green spaces, which included urban parks and urban greenery. In this way, the scholars analyzed both the health of people with little access to green spaces and that of people with greater exposure.

“We have found that spending time in, or living near, natural green spaces is associated with diverse and significant health benefits. It reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death and premature birth and increases the duration of sleep, ”explains Caoimhe Twohig-Bennett, lead author of the study.

There was also a drop in heart rate and cortisol levels in saliva and therefore a clear reduction in the degree of stress.

The reason for this close correlation between nature and good health is not yet certain: "it is possible, for example, that staying often in green spaces is associated with greater opportunities for socializing or exercising, or that the different variety of bacteria present in natural environments is beneficial to the immune system and decreases the level of general inflammation ".

Research suggests, in fact, that phytoncides - organic compounds with antibacterial properties - released from trees could explain the properties that enhance the health of "forest baths".

All in the green, then! As soon as we can we spend a few hours on some path, in a park, in the mountains. Don't throw out cell phones, speak softly and breathe deeply. Spending more time in the green space and natural areas will do nothing but good, even and above all to those who are already in poor health.

Twohig-Bennett concludes: “We hope this research will inspire people to go out more and feel health benefits. We hope our findings will encourage policy makers and planners to invest in the creation, regeneration and maintenance of parks and green spaces, particularly in urban residential areas and disadvantaged communities that could benefit the most. "