Living close to nature and spending time outdoors has significant and wide-ranging health benefits – according to new research. The research shows that exposure to green spaces reduces the risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, premature birth, stress and high blood pressure. Populations with higher levels of green space exposure also report better overall health – according to global data from more than 140 studies of more than 290 million people.
Green space was defined as open, undeveloped land with natural vegetation and urban green spaces, including urban parks and street greenery. The team analyzed how the health of people with little access to green spaces compared to those with the highest levels of exposure.
“We found that spending time in or living near natural green spaces is associated with diverse and significant health benefits, reduces the risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death and preterm birth, and prolongs the duration of pregnancy. sleep.
“People who lived closer to nature also had reduced diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and stress. One of the really interesting things we found is that exposure to green spaces significantly lowers people's levels of salivary cortisol – a physiological marker of stress.
