Nature's stress-relieving effects are certainly appreciated in our biological age.
We have all witnessed that being close to nature has a good impact on our well-being. Science also supports that seeing green plants and birds chirping can boost overall health not only emotionally, but also physically.
Furthermore, being in nature can stimulate creativity, increase concentration, physical activity, and has been shown to contribute to a strengthened immune system. So it is no coincidence that in our fast-paced, ever-changing world, it would be particularly comforting to be able to return to a place where permanence plays the main role.
One, Holistic ecology Published in the magazine Stady We recently found a genetic reason why you should spend as much time as possible in nature. Fellow at North Carolina State University, Aaron Heap The social ecologist and his team examined the effects of green areas at the cellular level and studied how close proximity to nature can offset harmful environmental damage.
The researchers examined a total of 7,827 people and their living environments. Their results lead to the conclusion that the telomeres of people who live in parks, trees, forests, or other vegetation-filled areas (i.e., a short, frequently repeated section at either end of the strand of DNA that makes up a chromosome, which prevents the ends of chromosomes from sticking together), which protect DNA also during cell division) and were longer – regardless of who or not consumed alcohol and tobacco products.
What does this really mean?
Every time a cell divides, its telomeres shorten. When they become too short, the genetic material cannot continue to divide, and as a result the cells also die. In other words, telomeres indicate cell wear, and in Hungarian they also refer to biological age – how much the body has aged compared to our age or average. Longer telomeres therefore mean slower aging and longer lifespan.
According to researchers, proximity to green areas can reduce the aging process by up to 2.2-2.6 years.
How quickly telomeres erode or shorten can be affected by many factors, including stress. As mentioned above, nature works wonders for the human body – even though today's humans are more isolated from it than ever before. According to scientists, this disconnect is partly responsible for the rapid destruction of the natural world around us, which can only be reversed if we return to harmony with our former natural environment, nature.
The beneficial effects of nature are certainly appreciated in our biological age (Image: Unsplash)
Of course, the benefits of nature only work to a certain extent. When the research team took into account risk factors such as air pollution, the positive effects of green spaces suddenly disappeared. Not to mention, the research also highlights social inequality and the issue of economic segregation, which can limit access to green areas (just think poor or urban areas, lakeside developments, and luxury holiday complexes occupying the soft lap of nature).
But the good news is that if there is no green space in our area, we can still find a way to reconnect with nature: get out of the house as much as possible, and walk a lot. To go on a tripLet's create a small garden on our balcony or fill the room with green With indoor plants (Green is too Feng shuiThat is, it is particularly useful according to Chinese spatial planning science). Where we live, what kind of lifestyle we live, What to eat And how many things we are exposed to, all of which can have an impact on our biological age – which certainly is a Blue areas Residents of the Methuselah era can also tell the story.
Did you know that the tingling sensation of grass is not only relaxing but also has many health benefits? Click here to learn why we should spend as much time as possible barefoot in nature.
Featured Image: Chad Madden/Unsplash
