Time spent in the natural world influences what we eat, says study. In our virtual world, nesting in front of computer screens means fewer people are spending time outside disconnecting from nature, and that's bad news for our health. Doctors in some countries are prescribing nature-based therapies to improve the health of their patients and... Continue Reading →
How does nature help prevent disease?
The immune system may be a significant pathway explaining how nature and the body work jointly to fight disease, says research. We all know roaming through woods, countryside or paddling in the sea is good for our wellbeing. Research has discovered that spending time in natural environments protects against chronic illnesses such as depression, diabetes,... Continue Reading →
Why are nature sounds good for our health?
Whether you're in a wood, park, garden or downloading nature sounds at home or work, they have more health benefits than you realise, according to research. In collaboration with the national park service, researchers from North America analysed data from 18 previous studies exploring how natural sounds influence human health. “Sound perception enables most species,... Continue Reading →
Sleeping In The Forest ~ Mary Oliver
I thought the earth remembered me, shetook me back so tenderly, arrangingher dark skirts, her pocketsfull of lichens and seeds. I sleptas never before, a stoneon the river bed, nothingbetween me and the white fire of the starsbut my thoughts, and they floatedlight as moths among the branchesof the perfect trees. All nightI heard the... Continue Reading →
How can a forest walk benefit your blood pressure?
Forest environments may have preventive effects on lifestyle-related diseases, says study. When we stroll amongst trees savouring the fresh air, earthy smells, or hear the rustle of leaves with the sunlight bouncing off the branches, it’s not difficult to see how nature uplifts and soothes our mood. But it does much more than that. It's... Continue Reading →
How can listening to nature sounds help us relax?
Natural sounds positively affect our heart and brain, according to research. Whether it's a ramble through woods or the ebb and flow of waves on the seashore, nature has a calming effect on us, and scientists have been investigating what's happening in the body when people hear natural sounds. In a lab-based experiment researchers from... Continue Reading →