Ladies, it is time to pack your bags, and head to the nearest mountain or lake! Apparently, Mother Nature is the elixir of life we’ve been craving for, a recent study has shown that women who live in nature live longer. Namely, the natural environment lowers stress and increase social and physical activity.
The study was conducted at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and analyzed 108, 630 women for 8 years. During this time, 8, 604 women passed away, and scientists considered factors like age, smoking, race, and socioeconomic status.
The findings indicated that women who lived in the greenest surroundings had a lower mortality rate by 12% compared to women who lived in areas with less vegetation.
Moreover, women who lived in higher vegetated areas had a 34 percent lower rate of deaths due to respiratory issues, and a 13 perfect lower rate of deaths caused by cancer.
Researchers believe that these results are due to the fact that women surrounded by nature are less prone to depression and negative feelings, and are not exposed to the disastrous effects of noise, air pollution, chemicals, and even extreme heat.
According to Peter James, a research associate in the Harvard Chan School Department of Epidemiology:
“We were surprised to observe such strong associations between increased exposure to greenness and lower mortality rates. We were even more surprised to find evidence that a large proportion of the benefit from high levels of vegetation seems to be connected with improved mental health.”
Moreover, greenery offers them an opportunity to be more physically active and interact with each other. The time spent outdoors calms them and helps them reconnect with nature, greatly improving their mental health.
How much time do you spend outside every day?
Elizabeth Pegg Frates, MD, advises:
“Get outside and breathe the clean air, walk around the neighborhood, find some friends to walk with you, and enjoy the great, green outdoors. If you do not live in an area with a lot of greenery around you, consider planting some trees, plants, or shrubs.
If you live in a highly urban area, you can get involved with a local policy to work to encourage your community to increase green spaces. Spend time with friends who live in areas with lots of trees and greenery, consciously seek out green areas as often as you can, and consider vacationing in areas with lots of vegetation.”
You need to carve out some true quality time and enjoy it in nature, in order to improve your physical and mental health, and live longer!
