By Wendi Martin; Purple Martin Coaching LLC: Horticulturist & Master Naturalist
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition.
Have you heard the news? Nature now has a growing body of evidence backing its physical, emotional, and mental benefits on human health! April 30, 2021: A Review of the Evidence.
Physically, nature may support a stronger immune system by increasing the activity of natural killer (NK) cells, which help the body fight off infections, according to a study published on May 31, 2023 Nature As Medicine.
Emotionally, 20 minutes in an urban nature setting has been shown to reduce the stress hormone cortisol by over 20% according to a study in the April 4, 2019: Frontiers in Psychology.
Mentally, nature helps to restore attention by allowing the brain to recover from mental fatigue, leading to sharper focus, better short-term memory, and enhanced creativity. Check out this study from July 27, 2022: The influence of natural environments on creativity.
If you are interested in a prescription for nature, head on over to Park RX today and learn how to start a conversation with your health provider.
Are you making nature a priority in your life? I don’t know about you, but I’m a planner. Once something makes my calendar, it’s a priority!
Book time in nature by perusing the classes and events made available through our very own Missouri Botanical Garden. Most of which are essentially nature-based!
Forest Park is a must for city dwellers, was just named best U.S. city park again, and of course has an events calendar to consider too.
Book me on your calendar! Bring nature home to you! I specialize in the design, build, & stewardship of resilient nature-inspired gardens.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, go to www.purplemartincoaching.com
A parting gift, if you enjoy reading The Healthy Planet Magazine, I imagine you may be a lot like me and enjoy a good awe-inspiring non-fiction book.
Here are my top three books on my shelf for realigning with purposeful living on our planet.
- Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth: A Collection of Essays, Edited By Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee
- Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, By Doug W. Tallamy
- I Want A Better Catastrophe, By Andrew Boyd