Researchers in Australia have discovered a new prescription that seems to be effective against blood pressure… and get this: It has no adverse side effects.
That’s because the prescription that these researchers believe doctors should give you more of is a healthy “dose of nature.”
But not only does it help lower blood pressure without nasty side effects typical of most pharmaceuticals, it also show promise at relieving heart disease, stress, anxiety and depression.
According to University of Queensland (UQ) and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions (CEED) researcher Dr. Danielle Shanahan, “If everyone visited their local parks for half an hour each week there would be seven per cent fewer cases of depression and nine percent fewer cases of high blood pressure.”
Research associate Professor Richard Fuller added, “We’ve known for a long time that visiting parks is good for our health, but we are now beginning to establish exactly how much time we need to spend in parks to gain these benefits,”
So what is the minimum recommended dosage of park you need to reap these benefits? Professor Fuller says the evidence suggested regular visits of at least half an hour each time.
Before you scoff at the idea, you should know that numerous studies indicate there really is something about the green stuff that does a body–and mind–a lot of good…
Another study conducted by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that women who lived in homes surrounded by the most vegetation had a lower mortality rate than women living near less vegetation.
This study was done on women, but it seems the benefits could be just as good for men.
When all was said and done, women who lived in the greenest areas had a 12 percent lower mortality rate than women living in the areas with the least greenery.
Now, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly why this is so, but here are a few possibilities, according to researchers:
Improved mental health: Researchers found that women who lived near more greenery had lower levels of depression. They estimated that this improved mental health accounted for about 30 percent of the overall benefit of living in a highly vegetated area.
Less pollution: Since plants reduce pollution and pollution causes disease, less pollution could definitely play a role in lower mortality rates. Researchers found, for example, that women who lived in greener areas had lower rates of cancer and respiratory disease, both of which have been linked to environmental pollutants.
More physical activity: People who live near a lot of greenery have ample opportunities to get outside and get active. At least, that’s what researchers suspect. Researchers also have an inkling that getting outside for some fun and recreation encourages people to socialize more, which is known to have a positive impact on health as well.
Even if you don’t live near a park you can probably enjoy improved blood pressure, reduced anxiety and a better mood, just by spending a little time out of doors in your own back yard or by taking a walk down a street lined with a few trees. It’s one prescription you can never get too much of!
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Sources:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-06/uoq-don062316.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160414170015.htm
