Health Tip: Can Nature Improve My Health?

Can spending time enjoying nature improve my health? Chardae Mara, RN, shares how spending just 15-20 minutes outside three times per week can contribute to a host of physical and psychological benefits, including:

• An increase in natural killer cells, which support the immune system, prevent cancer, and speed recover.
• A decrease in heart disease risk, blood pressure, and heart rate
• A reduction in stress hormones, depression, and anxiety
• An improvement in some attention deficit disorders.

Longer exposures are important as well. Spending a full day outside can create benefits that last up to 30 days!

Try these tips to start bringing nature into your regular routine:

• Detach from your devices daily.
• Find green space, even if it’s not in a remote location, and take time to engage all five senses.
• Use phone calls or coffee breaks as an opportunity to take a short walk outside.
• And finally, take off-the-grid vacations when possible to maximize your exposure to nature.

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