Health benefits of Nature

In both western and non-western culture, there is historical idea that,

the environment where we live in and the aspects of nature which
surround us, have significant benefits on health. Even now, recent
studies show that majority of people agreed that in order to feel
refreshed and healthy, they visit someplace which provides them with
a closeness to nature. Due to modernisation and industrial
development, people are not in touch with nature as they used to be
before. Now does that pose a danger to human beings? Can being
away from nature effect our health?
The answer will be yes. In the western world, several diseases such as
cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, and respiratory illness are
increasing day by day. Many researchers suggest that being in a
natural environment can help us cope with them and they can also
allow us to live a more stress free life. But can nature really cure us?
If yes, then what type of environment is needed to live a stress free
life. First we need to know what health and nature is and how we can
measure it.

Health and Nature, how we measure them

Health is known as the, “absence of any disease whether it is social,
mental or physical” while nature is basically, “ a broad category of
natural environment and its features”, these can include trees, river,
flowers, etc.

How to Measure Health

We can measure health of a single person or a bigger group just by
the use of health indicators. On an individual level, health indicators
will include the severity of certain symptoms, the number of days that
person spent in the hospital, medications and several other things.
While on a larger level, health indicators will include death statistics,
morality rate, research on mental and physical health etc.

How to Measure Nature

Nature is a broad category as we have said earlier. It includes several
things such as landscape, nature area, green space, etc. so if we talk
about measuring nature, we can say that the measure of amount,
quality of scenery, green space and presence are all green space
indicators. Just as health indicators included several factors by which
we could determine someone’s health, green space indicators can also
measure the percentage of the area which is covered, we can also see
the amount and quality of green space.

How we link Nature with Health

In 1984, Roger Ulrich published a study. In the study he found out
that patients which had an overview of some form of nature required
less time in hospital. He also found out that they needed less dosses
of painkillers compared to those patients which overlooked a brick
wall. After the research was tested several other times, researchers
came to the conclusion that it was highly likely that being close to
nature had a positive effect on patients. In recent studies, a
comparison between people who live near green areas and people
who are far away from green areas, is shown. Researches found out
that people who live near green area tend to have less health problems
and they live their life in a more stress free environment.
Epidemiological studies show that people who tend to stay mostly i
their homes such as housewives, old people, etc all require to spend
more time in nature in order to have minimum amount of stress and
illness.
Link between Nature and Health
So we know how health and nature are linked together, but what are
the components which link these two together. Well according to
literature, there are 4 mechanisms which have a direct link with health
and nature.
1. Air quality
Air quality is pretty explanatory on its own. If we are not around
greenery which filters the air we breathe, we can imagine how much
pollution we will be breathing in. Being near trees is a great way to
feel refreshed because we are breathing in clean and fresh air.
2. Physical activity
Why do you think people prefer working out in an open and green
space? Because doing any kind of physical activity is more effective
if it is done in a natural environment which gives us some sort of
peace. That is why people say in order to get full benefit of yoga, you
have to do it in a more peaceful and natural environment.
3. Social cohesion
In some studies, it is shown that a neighbourhood near greenery or
natural environment is much more likely to be united and more kept
together. Although these studies were mostly done in barren and
remote areas, so the credibility is low.
4. Restoration from mental stress
We have been discussing why nature and health are connected, and
this is one of the reasons nature is important for health. As we read
earlier, the patients who could see a natural view from their rooms in
the hospital recovered more quickly than those who were facing a
brick wall. So it isn’t entirely unusual to hear that being close to
nature relives our stress and helps our mental state of being.
While these 4 mechanisms are important links between both nature
and health but there are also several other links such as reduced
aggression or consumption of healthy foods are also connected with
health and nature.

It is impossible to stay away from nature, in one way or form, we

need to be near any sort of natural environment. Being near nature
helps us in order to live a stress free and healthy life.