Many of us have gotten so used to city living that we spend most of our time indoors stuck at the office or in the living room. But "vitamin G" -- what experts refer to as time spent in green spaces -- reaps tons of health benefits, physically and psychologically.
In fact, it's an essential component for good health, according to Frances Kuo, PhD, director of the Landscape and Human Health Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Instead of staying in for TV or window shopping (again) this Saturday, take a break from the concrete jungle and head out to the nature to give your health a boost.
Did you know?
- Interaction with nature is linked to lesser stress levels, lower depression rates and better mental health overall.
- Spending time outdoors in nature encourage and support higher levels of physical exercise -- activities with proven health benefits.
- Greener environments improve immune system functioning, are associated with lower rates of childhood obesity, lower rates of diseases, and lower mortality rates in adults.
- Greener environments boost your brainpower and enhance recovery from surgery.
- Interaction with nature is associated with increased life expectancy, upping survival odds by about 15% over 5 years, according to one Japanese study.
