Time spent in nature is never wasted time.
While our ancestors have been around for about six million years, the modern form of humans evolved about 200,000 years ago.
For 99.99% of this time, we've lived in the natural environment.
From this perspective, it's been said that ‘the urban environment is a spontaneous, changeable and historically unfamiliar habitat’
Never in history have humans spent so little time in physical contact with animals and plants, and although the consequence are still being teased out, we do know they are considerable
The Benefits of Nature.
We are just beginning to appreciate the breadth of human health benefits of experiencing nature and biodiversity.
The weight of evidence strongly supports the concept that natural biodiversity sustains the delivery of many ecosystem services upon which human health and well-being depend. If there was a pill or potion that could do what nature does for us, it would sell like hotcakes!!
Natural environments are able to provide biologically and genetically diverse microbial inputs.
The biodiversity hypothesis suggests that reduced exposure to natural environments and biodiversity may adversely affect our microbiota and its immunomodulatory capacity (3). Healthy livelihoods depend on such bio-diverse, well-functioning environments being able to provide essential ecosystem services, regulate infectious disease reservoirs and transmission and serve as pool for potential medical treatments, amongst others.
The World Health Organization has reviewed the evidence and identified ten ways in which nature impacts positively on physical and mental (4). To add to this, additional reviews have found that the benefits extend to every single system in the body, from immunological benefits, to mental health and cognitive function, to cardiovascular health, improved pregnancy and birth outcomes, recovery from surgery, pain reduction, myopia, insomnia and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. (3, 5).
It has a harmonising effect, especially on physiological stress reactions, that is found across all body systems (6). Even studies of community gardening have shown reduction in glycosylated haemoglobin in people with diabetes with no intervention other than growing vegetables!
In fact, gardeners have also been shown to be less likely to develop dementia than non-gardeners, and deliberate nature exposure also improves productivity, focus and creativity (5).
I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.
The benefits are enormous and the evidence is overwhelmingly impressive.
Nature therapies don’t just feel good, they also save trillions in health care costs.
Researchers at Griffith University (7) suggest that national parks and protected areas save an approximate $6 trillion globally in mental health care costs. The researchers found that2.5 to 3% of a person’s mental health is influenced by how often they visit parks. While the percentage seems low, it’s about the same as the effect of additional income on a person’s mental health so IS meaningful. ‘Green prescriptions’ are gaining momentum in conventional medical circles. Last year, the UK government has announced a £4 million investment in a two-year pilot as part of its post-COVID-19 recovery plan (8).
Nature is our strongest ally.
There’s no doubt about it, natural areas should be seen as one of our most vital health resources.The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an estimated loss of GDP globally of $5 trillion, and recent estimates suggest that, by comparison the cost of nature-based solutions to prevent future pandemics could be around $31 billion per year (9).
In the context of the growing worldwide mental illness burden of disease, it’s well documented that contact with nature may offer an affordable, accessible and equitable choice in tackling the imminent epidemic, within both preventative and restorative public health strategies (2). The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion also identified the importance of environments supportive of health, stating that the inextricable links between people and their environment are the basis for a socio-ecological approach to health (2).
Nature plays an important role in coping during times of crisis. In fact, of all the reasons that people value nature, one study which talked to people during COVID-19 lockdowns found that mental well-being was the most important driving factor for spending time in nature (10).
What if nature isn’t easy to access, there are plenty of ways to bring nature to you.
Way back in 1984, Ulrich famously reported that surgical patients who were assigned to rooms with windows overlooking natural scenery had shorter hospital stays and experienced fewer negative health outcomes than patients in rooms with windows facing the brick wall of a building (11).
This is backed by a very recent systematic review finding that even “fake” nature stimuli (photos of nature, virtual reality, videos of natural landscapes) leads to more relaxed body responses and favourable influences physiology.
The same study found that real nature stimuli (flowers, indoor plants, wooden materials) has positive effects on cerebral and autonomic nervous activities compared with non-nature-based stimuli(1).
When we connect with animals we also with nature, and experience a whole host of physical and emotional benefits. It is simply another way to connect and experience the benefits.
How to experience the full spectrum of benefits.
The more senses we engage when in nature, the greater the benefit. Watching my kids recently play in near a local creek after some beautiful rain made me realise how naturally this comes to kids. Nothing could stop them from jumping in muddy puddles, climbing trees or wanting to explore and truly immerse themselves in the experience!
At some stage however we “grow up” and tend towards disengagement, so we have to mindfully re-engage! It might no longer be climbing trees or rolling around in muddy puddles (unless that's your thing!), but we slow down and simply appreciate the small things. We can smell for which natives are flowering; kick off the shoes; take a dip in a creek; look for the tiny details and range of colours that are present; and listen to the frogs, bugs and birdsong. Within a few minutes of doing this, stress levels are lower and cardiovascular function is improved. Minimal effort with maximum benefit!
In other news, I recently had the privilege of chatting with Oli from the Humans of Agriculture podcast where I discuss eco-nutrition, nature and lots more. Click HERE to have a listen.
