The magical power of nature versus city life

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

Urban residents are more likely to suffer from mood and anxiety disorders and schizophrenia than those living in rural areas. People who grew up in an urban environment are more sensitive to stress. A large body of research points to the calming and healing effects of nature on the human body and mind.

Many people feel an inner attraction to nature, and this is logical.

Your brain and body live by its laws - for example, by sunrise and sunset, as well as by changing seasons, rather than obeying the daily routine.

Therefore, it is not surprising that when our senses perceive the murmur of a stream, the luxurious smell of the earth in the forest, or even the view of a park within the city limits, we get a cascade of benefits in the body.

Leif Haugen, a fire observer in a remote corner of the Flathead National Wildlife Refuge in northwest Montana, explains what it is like to live alone in nature, an experience many of those living in the 21st century are deprived of.

In a world where 70 percent of the population will live in urban areas by 2015 (and more than half do already), you need to understand the importance of the presence of nature in our lives, as well as what happens when we separate from it.

Urban life is linked to anxiety and mood disorders

Urban dwellers are more likely to suffer from mood and anxiety disorders and schizophrenia than those living in rural areas.

Researchers at Douglas University Mental Health at McGill University in Canada set out to determine if changes in neural processes might be responsible.

They used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to test the brains of 32 healthy adults who were asked to solve complex math problems in a specific amount of time during which they heard negative statements.

Those who lived in urban settings had increased activity in the area of the tonsils in the brain, which are responsible for fear and response to threat.

Those who lived in the city for the first 15 years also had increased activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, which helps regulate the amygdala. In short, those who grew up in an urban environment were more prone to stress.

In an accompanying editorial, Ph. D. Daniel Kennedy and Ralph Adolphs of California Institute of Technology explained that urban life is likely to affect everyone in different ways, and the level of autonomy can play a role in how much stress it causes you.

Nature rushes to the rescue

What else can affect your ability to feel great in an urban environment? Access to nature. A large amount of research points to its calming and healing effects on the human body and mind.

For example, studies published in PNAS found that people who took a 90-minute walk in nature were less thoughtful and had decreased nerve activity in an area of the brain associated with risk of mental illness, such as depression (prefrontal cortex) than people, who walked the same amount of time around the city.

“These results indicate that nature within walking distance can be vital to mental health in an environment of rapid urbanization,” the researchers noted.

Other studies have shown that even viewing images of landscapes activates areas of the brain associated with empathy and altruism. In contrast, viewing urban scenes induces blood flow to the fear-related amygdala.

Shinrin-yoku, the Japanese term for forest bathing or time in the forest, is also important for physical and mental health because you breathe in beneficial bacteria, plant esters, and negatively charged ions in the forest air.

Living close to nature can extend your life

In a study of over 100,000 women, those who lived near more greenery had a 12% lower rate of non-accidental premature deaths compared to those who lived near areas with the least vegetation. In particular, the former had:

• 41% fewer kidney disease deaths
• 34% - from respiratory diseases
• 13% - from cancer

The researchers hypothesized that nature's beneficial effects on mental health may be responsible for 30% of the effect of longevity. A large amount of greenery can also affect life expectancy by encouraging physical activity and being in society, as well as reducing exposure to air pollution.

Cognitive function may also improve. In a study of 2,600 children aged 7 to 10, those who had access to more green spaces, especially at school, had better memories and were less inattentive.

In this case, much of the effect (20% to 65%) is attributed to reduced exposure to air pollution from greenery, but studies are also underway that suggest that nature's “microbial contribution” plays a role in brain development.

A 2014 study also found that children attending schools in greener areas score higher on academic tests in English and math. Not to mention, seniors who spend more time outdoors experience less pain, sleep better, and have less reduction in the functionality associated with being able to perform daily tasks.

4 additional benefits of being in nature

Those who live in greener environments have fewer health complaints and are mentally healthier. Any greenery - city parks, fields, forests, and others - is equally useful.

In addition, the first systematic review found that living in a clean environment was associated with improved mental health and fewer all-cause deaths. Therefore, if you can set aside just a few minutes a day to interact with nature, it will bring you tremendous benefits, including:

1. Improved attention- For children with ADHD, spending time in nature leads to better attention and higher scores on concentration tests. Richard Lowe, in his book The Last Child in the Woods, even used the term Nature Deficiency Disorder to describe behavioral problems that he believes are associated with less time outdoors.

2. Increasing creativity “One study found that walking increased participants' creativity by 81%, and after walking outside, they found" the newest and highest quality analogies."

3. Better workouts- One meta-analysis of 10 studies found that being physically active outdoors in as little as five minutes leads to noticeable improvements in mood and self-esteem. Levels of the stress hormone cortisol also drop when people exercise outdoors rather than indoors.

4. Less pain and better sleep- Seniors who spend more time outdoors experience less pain, sleep better, and have less impairment in their ability to carry out daily tasks. According to research published in BioPsychoSocial Medicine:

Even a short "natural retreat" can provide physical and mental recovery

A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) also highlights the need for urban retreats in the form of access to open spaces. The researchers explained:

The study focused on the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, which deal with stress by initiating a “fight-or-flight response” or by increasing physiological calmness, respectively.

Students donned sensors to track their heart rate and other functions, and then looked at pictures of green or urban spaces. Photos were shown both before and after they solved difficult math problems to increase stress levels.

When photographs of green areas were shown after a math test, the parasympathetic nervous system became active and decreased the heart rate. The researchers concluded:

Make nature a part of your day

If possible, try to spend time in nature every day: walk along the trees outside, tend your backyard garden, or dine outdoors in a city park.

When time permits, try to immerse yourself even deeper in nature by hiking in the nature reserve, canoeing on the river, or even spending the weekend camping outdoors.

Your body can dictate how much nature you need to feel fully charged, so try to listen to it. Even a small dose is better than nothing, and if you can't get out, even watching photos or videos can help you cope with stress.

You can also use Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) to ease the stress of urban life. This can be especially useful if you feel "trapped", and once you master them, you can do it outdoors to enhance the healing effect.