10 benefits that contact with nature brings to your health

We have already spoken here at Mega Curioso about the relationship between listening to nature sounds and having greater productivity at work. In fact, this is even a matter of logic, after all we are part of nature too, so it is natural for this relationship of completeness to manifest itself.

Still, not everyone is intimate with the elements of nature, and if you're the type who always needs strong reasons for changing habits, here are a number of benefits that deeper contact with nature can bring to your life. life:

1 - Sun = Vitamin D

We have already talked about the importance of vitamin D for bone and tooth health. Although it is present in some food groups (eggs, fish and milk, for example), the sun is an excellent activator of this substance. To give you an idea, in cloudier cities it is common for the population to be deficient in this vitamin, so you can only understand that exposure to the sun, at less risky times and for periods of 15 minutes, is essential.

In our body, vitamin D works by improving calcium absorption, as well as being related to mood enhancement and reduced risk of developing cancer, heart disease, strokes and diabetes. Because it can cause blood vessels to relax, it also improves blood circulation and lowers blood pressure.

2 - More Sun Benefits

Sunlight is not a great influence only on vitamin D production and absorption; In fact, the hormone melatonin, which is responsible for regulating our biological clock, needs light to be produced. If you have trouble sleeping early and getting up early, guess what might be a good help? That's right: sunbathe.

3 - A matter of mental health

Many times we don't even realize it, but we live so full of tasks, worries and obligations that we gradually fuel the stress, depression, anxiety and so many other ills caused by the overload of activities.

When things get worse, it is critical to seek medical and psychological guidance, and one way to prevent the situation from getting too bad is to find a way to be in greater contact with nature. If the idea is to empty your head, look for a natural setting and enjoy.

4 - Focus

Another side effect of too much technology and information is difficulty concentrating - few people can sit at a computer and do just one task. If the goal is to make a report, for example, it is quite possible that the browser has numerous tabs open, many unrelated to the subject of the report.

A study by the University of Wisconsin revealed what was already obvious to many people: Spending time in contact with nature, preferably without technological interference, is a great way to put everyday problems and stress in the background. That way, we become more focused and can do our jobs better.

5 - Your brain thanks you

As much as our thinking body is capable of performing tasks that even science has not yet been able to unravel, it does not mean that we can handle everything. In fact, the brain also needs rest.

Just to give you an idea, it needs 20% of all the energy the human body produces - that value increases by up to 10% when we need to focus on some kind of mental challenge. The fact is that even when we're rested, the brain keeps working - good!

When people are wandering their minds, which happens much more easily to those in contact with nature, the brain enters a state known as the “standard mode neural network, ” which is a complex system of coordinated communication between all of them. his parts.

This activity is critical during the process of developing or understanding human behavior, which helps us better understand our own identity.

6 - Is the problem still stress?

A Dutch study found that spending time in nature and doing nature-related tasks such as tending a garden or vegetable garden is a better stress fighter than leisure activities. To reach this conclusion, the researchers observed the responses of two groups of volunteers who performed stressful activities and then took a break.

One group of people was instructed to stay indoors while reading, while another was to do gardening for 30 minutes. Not only did gardeners report a better mood than readers, they also had records of declining production of cortisol, a substance known as the "stress hormone."

7 - The relationship between fresh air and good blood pressure

Indoors or heavily polluted, the body needs to work harder to meet its oxygenation needs. Working harder means having a higher heart rate and blood pressure, which is not a good deal.

8 - The power of breath

Breathing is a basic and involuntary exercise which, thanks to countless new studies on it, also seems to be an easy way to solve some physical and mental health issues - if you have difficulty sleeping, in this text we teach a breathing technique that promises be very useful in that regard.

The truth is that breathing exercises seem to also slow down the production of stress-related hormones and, in addition, help you cope with stressful situations in the future. In this sense, it is worth knowing that a fast breath is a full plate so that your body is alert and, consequently, stressed. On the other hand, slow, deep breaths can calm you down quickly.

9 - Your body's oxygenation and well-being

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter known to affect our mood, appetite, memory, social behavior and other important processes. The better oxygenation in your brain, the higher your serotonin levels will be. The ideal, of course, is not to have too much substance, as this can cause tension and irritability. Now if serotonin is down you get depressed.

Breathing fresh air helps to regulate serotonin levels and thus promote feelings of happiness and well-being. What's more, the "clean" air found in natural environments has an even more relaxing effect on our body. The air of unpolluted environments, such as a waterfall in a remote location, increases the amplitude of brain waves, which creates an immediate tranquilizing effect.

10 - Moving the earth is great

When you think of nature, don't just focus on unpolluted air, trees, birds, and waterfalls. Earth is also a source of energy and joy, and this is scientifically proven: research from the University of Colorado has revealed that a harmless bacterium found in the soil can act as a kind of natural antidepressant.

This is because such a microorganism makes us produce more serotonin, that same neurotransmitter we talked about in the previous item. The same bacterium also seems to do good to our immune system. Of course, in heavily polluted regions, the tip of moving the land is not worth it, but creating a small garden at home, for example, is always a good idea.

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Now tell us: Do you have a good relationship with nature? Do you know any different techniques of meditation and relaxation? Share with us in the comments!

* Posted on 16/10/2015