Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing,”is a traditional Japanese practice of immersingoneself in nature by mindfully using all five senses. But you don’t have to lose yourselfin a forest to reap thehealth benefits of being innature. Something as simpleas a walk through a park orby a lake can pay off for yourwell-being, says Frances Kuo,PhD, founder and director ofthe Landscape and HumanHealth Lab at the Universityof Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
“Even just looking at arooftop garden for 40 secondshelps you sustain attentionduring mentally fatiguingtasks,” she says, citing a 2015study. Here are more reasonsto embrace the outdoors.
More positive outlook. Participants in a small study who took a90-minute nature walk, compared with those who walked through an urbanenvironment, reported lower levels of ruminating (repetitive negativethoughts), a known risk for depression and other psychological conditions.They also showed reduced activity in an area of the brain linked to sadnessand withdrawal.
Better sleep. An Australian study of 259,319 people found that peopleliving in neighborhoods with more greenspace were more likely to geteight hours of sleep nightly than those living in neighborhoods with lessgreen space.
Less pain. A landmark study published in the journal Science found thathospitalized patientswhose windows looked onto a garden setting healedfaster from surgery and required less pain medication than patients whoseview was a brick wall.
Sharper memory. When people took an hour stroll in a nature setting,their short-term memory improved by 20 percent, a study in PsychologicalScience found. Even looking at pictures of nature helped memory.
Healthier heart. People whose homes have easier access to woods andparks had lower levels of blood-vessel-damaging adrenaline and higherlevels of circulating angiogenic cells (CACs), which repair blood vessel damage, according to a study of cardiology patients.
If you’re a pet lover, you know thatspending time with a beloved cat, dog,rabbit or other pet can lift your mood, butscience shows it has real physical andmental health benefits, too. Studies showthat spending as little as five or 10 minuteswith a pet can help lower stress andanxiety, relieve loneliness and reducepain and depression.Continue reading Pets Can Boost Your Mood and Ease Your Pain→
Standing desks may be the biggest development in office furniture since chairs on wheels. But is working on your feet really better than sitting? Not necessarily, says Alan Hedge, PhD, ergonomics researcher and professor in the Department of Design and Environmental Analysis at Cornell University. Moderation is key. Continue reading Are Standing Desks Good for People With Arthritis→
When the temperature drops, wearing the right clothing when you head out into the elements can ease the ache in your joints. “The best way to beat the chill is by wearing layers,” says Heidi V. Freeman, PhD, an assistant professor of kinesiology at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Layering lightweight fabrics can keep you toasty with less bulk. Here’s how.Continue reading Beat the Chill→
Entertaining kids andkeeping up with theirenergy can be a challenge,especially whenyou have arthritis. Butwith planning, a positiveattitude and some helpfrom others, you canenjoy your time with themwithout paying for it laterin joint pain and fatigue.Continue reading Keep Your Grandkids Busy Without the Fatigue of Arthritis→
Winter weather usually means two things for hands:pain and stiffness. Simply running your handsunder warm water can jumpstart relief. But forlonger-lasting effects, try these hot ideas.Continue reading Hot Tips for Cold Hands→
Changes don’t have to be difficult or dramatic tomake a difference. There is no time like the present toadopt good habits that can improve yourhealth and happiness for the long term.Continue reading FIVE GREAT HABITS FOR A HEALTHIER 2019→
If short days have you feeling blue, getting more sunshine and exercise can help, says Mark Rapaport, MD, chairman of the psychiatry and behavioral sciences department at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. These strategies also might help.
Look ahead. Plan and focus on something positive in your future, Dr. Rapaport suggests, like a vacation or a night out with friends.
Get crafty. Knitting yourself a scarf could do more than protect you from the cold. A study of 3,545 knitters worldwide found a link between knitting and happiness. The greatest impact was among those who knitted in a group.
Say “om.” Easy on painful joints, yoga is also tough on the blues, according to a review article in Frontiers in Psychiatry. Yoga appears to influence brain chemicals and inflammation in the body similarly to antidepressants and psychotherapy.
Get enough zzz’s. It’s hard to feel good when you are sleep-deprived. Research shows that increasing sleep time by treating insomnia may improve mood. If your blues don’t go away and you feel helpless, hopeless, guilty or despairing, see a professional.
If you have gout, you know all about high uric acid levels. Uric acid (UA) forms when the body breaks down purines, which are found in human cells and many foods. You may be working with your doctor, taking medication and avoiding certain foods to keep UA levels in the normal range, but could you be overlooking an important factor – your weight?Continue reading Weight Loss Helps Gout→
Getting out of bed when you have arthritis can produce a chorus of creaks and pops. Morning stiffness is an all-too-common symptom of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and osteoarthritis (OA). Continue reading Your Arthritis Morning Routine→