Depending on who’s asked, the benefits and downsides to keeping and being in nature can differ greatly. While some people thrive in the outdoors, others don’t feel that they mesh well away from the modern era and tend to avoid the wilder parts of the world. Nature, however, carries many health benefits beyond being many people’s first choice for an exercise venue.

 

According to National Geographic, studies done by the University of Exeter Medical School found that people who live near greener spaces report feeling less mental distress, even when taking differences in income, education and employment into consideration. Similarly, a Dutch research team found that people who lived within a half mile of natural spaces had a lower likelihood of developing 15 different diseases, including depression, heart disease and asthma. Just six years later, an international research team further proved this when they discovered a correlation between living in areas with more trees and increased heart and metabolic health.

Similar studies were conducted by the University of Derby and The Wildlife Trusts, which had over 18,000 participants do something “wild” each day for 30 consecutive days to determine any possible effects. This study further proved the health benefits described earlier, but also helped to show that spending time in nature can reduce the symptoms of mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression, as well as restore attention span and reduce mental fatigue. The effects were comparable to other well-known health enhancers, as stated by one of the researchers for the study, Dr. Miles Richardson.

 

“These correlations are of a similar magnitude to those found between wellbeing and other variables, such as marriage and education, whose relationships with wellbeing are well established.”

 

Aside from preventing much of the stress and risk of disease that adults face, connecting with nature has been found to benefit children just as much. The National Wildlife Federation states that spending time outside increases Vitamin D levels, helps fight childhood obesity and can increase social interaction skills in children. Also, schools that teach about the environment tend to have higher scores on standardized tests in numerous subjects.

 

A study in 2006 conducted by American Scientist determined exactly why nature has such a positive impact on one’s health. Natural scenes can be considered more visually pleasurable than the repetitiveness of cityscapes or office buildings, and viewing nature causes an increase of interactions of the opioid receptors in the brain. Opioids naturally produced in the body are the cause of the “opioid effect,” which have a calming effect. This is in contrast to the effects of high-stress environments commonly associated with cities and civilization, which tend to increase cortisol levels. Just a few effects of elevated cortisol levels are interference with learning, increased weight gain and blood pressure, and weakening of immune function. Mental Health America in 2014 determined that elevated levels of cortisol in children can disrupt brain development, cause emotional problems and negatively affect attention and inhibitory control.

 

Regardless of whether or not nature speaks to someone personally, the numerous health benefits of spending time in the great outdoors are fairly undeniable. Many studies worldwide have all come together to say one thing, that nature does more than simply exist as a pretty setting. It’s a key component to reducing stress and improving overall health, in adults and children alike.