The journey to a healthy mind and body is not as expensive as one thinks it is, as keeping healthy can involve just taking a few steps outside your home.
In America, doctors and healthcare providers are giving prescriptions to their patients to spend time outside and be in nature.
While it is not really necessary to issue prescriptions asking patients to enjoy and take time with nature, some doctors are still doing it, so patients will have the motivation to actually do it.
In an Associated Press report, Dr. Suzanne Hackenmiller, a gynecologist from Iowa, said she started prescribing her patients to take a nature trip or just spend time outdoors as doing so soothed her spirit after her husband’s death.
She added that spending time outdoors can help people escape a world locked in perpetual conflict.
“When so many things are out of our control, it can be helpful to step away from the media and immerse ourselves in nature,” she said.
“I think time in nature often resonates with people as something they have found solace in and have gravitated to at other times in their life.”
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Health benefits of taking nature walks
According to multiple studies, doing nature walks can lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormones and boost immunity.
Nature walks can also help mentally as they can lift one’s mood, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve mental clarity.
A 2019 study published in the Frontiers stated a 20-minute nature walk can help lower stress hormone levels.
Aside from lowering cortisol levels, it can also help with cardiovascular health as well as increase endurance performance.
In a separate study in Denmark, children who live near green spaces were found to have a lower risk of mental disorders in later life.
Regardless of whether doctors recommend nature walks, individuals should still consider taking them, as they can greatly enhance overall well-being.
Walking in nature, even for just a short period of time, can be good for our physical and mental health.
By making time to connect with the natural world, we give ourselves the chance to slow down, breathe deeply, and restore balance in our busy lives.
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