When was the last time you were outside, in your peaceful place? I was doing my research to see about all of the benefits of nature and was honestly surprised by some of them in a good way.
I hadn’t really spent the time to look it up before.
I just know how much better I feel when I am outside getting some D’s. I know it brings me perspective. I know it lowers my stress level. I know it brings me back to my reality, that I am very small in the scheme of things and that the things that I can get twisted about really are just peanuts compared to the beauty and benefits of being outside.
And of course, there are studies out there supporting all of this.
Some of which I will list at the bottom of this article if you are one of those that need the facts. Haha. Not everyone is requiring them but I do hope that you get the point. Nature is one important mother in our lives, and we should not be taking her for granted, in any way shape of form.
So, what does she do for us?
I don’t know about you but when I’m outside, no matter how I have been feeling, I have an amazing boost of energy. 20 min outside with Mother Nature can be the same as a cup of coffee. What? All of you that have given me grief about eliminating your coffee might just want to get your butts outside. How about that?
Reduces heart rates, stress, and cortisol levels. Maybe not so shocking. It has been shown that those that spend time outside in a forest for example, as opposed to those living in the city have lower stress, lower cortisol levels and lower heart rates. However, this last week when I was in Chicago, I found one of the only parks in the area I was staying, and it changed everything about my day. So, take your shoes off and walk barefoot, smell the grass. Or since its fall, kick the leaves. Just spend some time outside.
It was referred to as forest therapy.
Vitamin D is problematic with people with Autoimmune. Sad, because it is so important to our bodies. It helps to reduce inflammation, helps us absorb calcium which is good for our bones but mostly our heart. Yes, every night, the majority of our calcium intake is diverted to our heart function. Etc, etc. And it is hard to get what we need from food, so we are forced to supplement. However, if you get outside for 20 min a day, guess what? You can get 90 percent of what you need.
And don’t just pick one time of the day.
The benefits we get from the sun’s rays different times of the day are different so mix it up a little.
Early studies are showing benefits to our immune function after spending time outside. What happens? The thought process is that breathing in the stuff produced by the plants help us fight off illness by increasing our levels of white blood cells. Hmm.
Free aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a big deal right now. Lots and lots of benefits of aromatherapy. But if you get your butt outside, you can benefit from the aromatherapy of wherever you are. I love the smell of the Ponderosa pines out here in the sweet spot of the universe. Mmmmm. And yes, I am definitely a tree hugger when I’m tight up against a tree smelling the bark. Oh ya. Best day ever when that happens.
Reduced inflammation levels have been noted again in a comparison to those hanging out in the forests as opposed to those in the city. Now, we know that the root of illness is very much connected to gut health, basically the health of the microbiome. But the microbiome and the immune system are very much affected by the inflammation on your body.
So, if you could get some free inflammation reduction, why wouldn’t you take it?
A study at two schools was conducted in Taiwan. One school held their recesses in doors, the other outside. After a year, the rate of nearsightedness was reduced by 50% for the school that was playing outside for recess. What? And none of our kids play outside anymore.
Now let’s step out a little into the things that aren’t quite apparent but still there. We have energy flowing through our body. Our nervous system uses energy for communication. Our cells make energy for us to function. Nature has a grounding energy. One of the pages I found in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health commented on the following. First link below will take you to this journal page if you are interested.
“Mounting evidence suggests that the Earth’s negative potential can create a stable internal bioelectrical environment for the normal functioning of all body systems. Moreover, oscillations of the intensity of the Earth’s potential may be important for setting the biological clocks regulating diurnal body rhythms such as cortisol excretion”
And.
“Earthing (or grounding) refers to the discovery of benefits – including better sleep and reduced pain – from walking barefoot outside or sitting, working, or sleeping indoors connected to conductive systems that transfer the Earth’s electrons from the ground into the body.”
Basically, during the study, they evaluated the effects of grounding to the Earth and showed improvement to glucose regulation (blood sugar regulation), immune response, pain, heart rate, chronic stress (cortisol regulation), poor sleep, etc, etc.
The question they ask is “Could such an intervention be located right beneath our feet?”
Duh. Get barefoot and get outside.
“Go rock your gypsy soul.” Thanks, Van, for that great line. Van Morrison by the way, Into the Mystic.
Thanks for being here with me.
Have a great rest of your week.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3265077/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2793341/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22840583
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02225.x
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov./pubmed/20337470
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3393816/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2793346/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161642012010755
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