New research shows health benefits of getting out into nature

With a lot of people just returning from holidays, it’s worthwhile to reflect on the health benefits of spending time in nature. It’s been well known anecdotally, that spending time in nature helps with stress relief, but what does the research say?  A new research report has been published titled “Cross-sectional associations of different types of nature exposure with psychotropic, antihypertensive and asthma medication.” The authors looked at 7321 people over a twelve-month period, and analysed associations between the amount of green space or ocean within a 1km radius of a person’s home, green or oceans views from home, and visits to green spaces.  They then considered the participants used of mental health medications (anxiolytics, hypnotics and antidepressants), antihypertensive and asthma medications.  The authors found that frequent green space visits were associated with less frequent use of these medications.

Go to “Cross-sectional associations of different types of nature exposure with psychotropic, antihypertensive and asthma medication.”