6 Ways Living in Nature Promotes Healthier and Longer Lives for Women
6 minute read
The great outdoors with its fresh air, bright sunshine, and beautiful scenery is likely to put a smile on your face. It’s long been said that getting out into the open and the fresh air is good for you.
According to recent studies, getting back to nature is particularly beneficial for women. Some studies show a link between women who surround themselves with vegetation and lower mortality rates.
Surrounded by Nature
Using satellite-based imagery and cases of reported deaths, researchers determined that vegetation is linked to longevity.
One study recently found that women who live with the greenest surroundings tend to live longer than those who do not. Specifically, the study found that there were less cancer- and respiratory-related deaths when living within greener areas. So what is the connection between living in a green world and longevity?
With a healthier environment, your health naturally improves too. Living in green and natural environments means that you are away from the adverse effects of pollution, noise, and extreme heat. In addition to this, it’s believed that the outdoors and nature offer more opportunities for physical activity and therefore, lower stress levels.
Mental health has long been known to improve when spending time in the sun and nature, so it’s no surprise that women living closer to nature are happier. Nature provides natural healing and ways to prevent diseases associated with fast-paced living.
Beyond this most recent study, there are known benefits to getting back to nature. Sometimes known as ecotherapy, there can be a sense of healing people get through being outdoors. Air is fresher when you’re in nature, the quiet of nature helps you sleep better, and the tranquility combined with beautiful scenery relax the body and mind, which promotes better health overall.
How Nature Keeps You Healthy
With so many large cities expanding, our natural environment is getting smaller. This could be devastating for the health of everyone and not just women. Living closer to nature promotes our health and well-being, so it may be time to re-consider our dwellings.
1. Lower Stress
Being in nature has been shown to reduce stress, which reduces the production of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol increases inflammation in the body, and it also increases your heart rate and blood pressure. Over time your immune system will weaken while your risk of serious illness will increase.
Chronic stress has been strongly associated with fast-paced lifestyles, which means getting back to nature is the best solution. With more green and less stress, you can prevent insomnia, anxiety, heart disease, and even cancer.
2. Sharper Mind
Spending time in nature has been shown to improve the cognitive function of your brain. When surrounded by nature, individuals show sharper minds and cognitive enhancement as compared to those surrounded by urban settings.
Viewing photographs of nature can produce the same effect, but imagine how sharp your mind will be when you are surrounded by the real deal.
3. Mood Improvement
Spending time in nature has been shown to reduce depression. Negative thinking and rumination are common with depression, but this can be reduced as a result of spending time in nature.
Depression and mental health concerns can impact you physically, thus affecting your well-being and longevity. So to live a long healthy life without the blues, you need to go green.
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4. Stronger Immunity
By reducing stress and helping you relax, living in nature can help boost your immune system. Stress, inflammation, and excess cortisol weaken your immune system, which leaves you drained and at risk for illness.
Living closer to nature also helps to reduce your exposure to harmful pollutants and toxins common to city living. As a result of less stress and a healthier environment, immersing yourself in nature is a great way to prevent illness and support a healthy immune system.
5. Sleep Well
Something about the fresher air of nature helps you sleep better at night. Not to mention, walking around in the outdoors each day promotes physical activity, which also enables you to sleep better each night.
With city living offering so many convenient ways to get around, we forget about walking and nature can re-introduce that to you. When you have such beautiful scenery, you can’t help but get out and enjoy it more often.
As a result of more exercise and cleaner air, you can sleep better at night.
6. Healthier Gut
It may not seem likely, but living in nature helps to promote gut health. The natural bacteria that live in your gut help to regulate digestion, which aids your immune system in keeping you healthy.
Being closer to nature exposes you to more natural varieties of bacteria, which in turn increases your natural microbiome. To be better protected against digestive disorders and other diseases, you need a diverse bacterial community in your gut.
The Bottom Line
For years, studies have shown the health benefits of being outdoors. It now seems that research has found a link between longevity for women and living closer to nature. This doesn’t mean you have to give up city life, but perhaps you should consider moving to a greener area nearby.
Surrounding yourself with nature will boost your health and your mind. Being one with nature is the best way to live your best and longest life.
