“Green” breaks are relatively easy to schedule, but as the world goes online, for many, the green world has become increasingly redundant.
At face value, battling dragons in a virtual world, hooking up with friends in the cloud etc. seems like the THING TO DO. Brain’s like the non stop buzz of the digital world and that little cell phone ping, drops a dollop of feel good dopamine, pretty much every time it pings.
The it is becoming increasingly clear, the human brain also needs a dose of the real world, to truly be healthy.
Green medicine
Walking on REAL grass, smelling REAL roses and fighting off REAL bugs, while being exposed to REAL dirt and REAL sunlight, as you stroll through a beautiful garden, is not just a way to spend an afternoon, it’s medicine. Green medicine.
Study after study, shows a touch of green, transforms lives and creates better body chemistry.
Green medicine works…
- It lowers crime rates
- It lowers blood pressure
- It improves performance on neurocognitive tests
- It boosts the immune system
- It lifts moods and improves impulse control
- It improves your eye sight
Not related to greenbacks
The health benefits of green medicine are often attributed to income. Statistics show, rich people DO experience better health – it may not be fair, but it is a fact.
And being rich usually means you live in a greener environment, PLUS, escaping the concrete jungle is relatively easy. You hop in the car – and take a drive to somewhere green, for a few hours, a weekend or a week or two.
But, the science suggests green medicine has nothing to do with greenbacks. It is the GREEN, not the GREENBACKS, which is working the magic.
Find a way to take your green medicine
For many, this is easy – you love spending time in nature, but……….. it feels like a luxury. It’s not, it’s a necessity ! To experience better body chemistry, you need to pencil green time, into your schedule.
For those of you who are not outdoor types – you need to think of green time, like eating your greens, it might not always feel good in the moment, but it is good for you. So look for opportunities to brave the dirt, bugs and sun – it will create better body chemistry in the long run.
And better body chemistry means better health –
- For diabetics, this means better glucose levels
- For patients undergoing surgery, quicker recovery
- For kids with ADHD – better attention and self control
- For older folks – more independence
Delight your brain
Green medicine is essential for human health
Further reading
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| The dirt behind sinusitis | Sea breezes may not be what your heart desires | Playing dirty on the sports field encourages the coming of germs |
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