“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.”
~ Anne Frank ~

We are oneness with the universe.

That’s why when we feel something missing from our inner selves, our nature is the best answer for natural remedies.

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.

~ Anne Frank ~

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As you have read my two previous posting about the correlation between nature and health, it is undoubtedly that nature contributes significantly to your longevity and vitality.

With that said, I will share with you the evidence below from Children & Nature Network.

Study Finds Access to Nature Improves Health

The Independent (UK) - November 07, 2008
By Steve Connor

Proof at last: living near parks and woodland boosts health, regardless of social class. Access to green spaces, whether they be rolling chalk downs or simple playing fields, has an independently beneficial impact on health and health-related behaviour which counteracts the effects of poverty and inner-city deprivation, the research by scientists found.

The links between serious illnesses and poverty are well established, but this is the first time scientists have systematically shown that the health gap between rich and poor can be halved with the help of green spaces.

When all deaths were analyzed, the gulf in health between the rich and the poor in the greenest areas of Britain was roughly half of that observed in the least green parts of the country, according to the findings published in the medical journal The Lancet.

The difference between those living in the greenest and least green areas was largest when looking at deaths from circulatory diseases.

However, the scientists found that living near green space had little effect for death from lung cancer, which is only weakly linked with exercise; or for death by self-harming.

The authors of the study, Richard Mitchell, of Glasgow University, and Frank Popham, of the University of St Andrews, believe that the findings are strong enough for planning authorities to consider making green spaces available on grounds of health and wellbeing.

The two scientists assessed the entire population of England under the retirement age - a total of 41 million people - and obtained the cause of death for 366,348 people who died between 2001 and 2005 to analyse the links between fatal illnesses and access to green spaces.

“Populations that are exposed to the greenest environments have the lowest levels of health inequality related to income deprivation,” they said.

“Evidence suggests that contact with such environments has independent salutogenic effects, for example, green spaces independently promote physical activity.

“However, the effect of green space is not solely based on promotion or enhancement of physical activity. Several studies have shown that contact (either by presence or visual) with green spaces can by psychologically and physiologically restorative, reducing blood pressure and stress levels and possibly promoting faster healing in patients after surgical intervention.”

They conclude: “The implications of this study are clear: environments that promote good health might be crucial in the fight to reduce health inequalities.”

In an accompanying commentary article in The Lancet, Terry Hartig of the Institute for Housing and Urban Research at Sweden’s Uppsala University, writes: “This study offers valuable evidence that green space does more than pretty up the neighbourhood; it appears to have real effects on health inequality, of a kind that politicians and health authorities should take seriously.”

Dr Mitchell, who is based at the university’s department of public health and health policy, said: “We would encourage the Government to consider carefully what their policy on green spaces is and to bear this research in mind when planning urban areas for the future.”

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. (John Muir)

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What does it take to complement a healthy life style besides a good diet?

Physical activity that takes place outdoors in nature:

- gardening,

- cycling,

- walking in urban green areas,

- to kite flying,

- programs design to involve metropolitan citizens in a farmer’s daily activity in planting and growing basic foods, and

- conservation projects in the countryside.

It would be the most cost-effective ways of improving your physical and mental wellbeing.

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.  Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.  (John Muir)

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Nature makes us feel good. This is often taken for granted yet many people nowadays around the world live in urban areas with little access to nature.

Our innate affinity with nature is supported in recent research which links exposure to natural environments with improved mental and physical health.

Natural environments are likely to benefit health in three ways:

• Providing an opportunity to relax from stress
• Providing opportunities to be physically active (which benefits both physical and mental health).
• Providing opportunities to socialize (people with good social networks enjoy better health).

There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that the great outdoors (and that can include even small pieces of urban green space!) can have positive effects on many aspects of our health. It can encourage us to be more active by providing facilities to walk, cycle and play, but being in nature also helps to reduce stress and generally improve mental health.

Source: Walking the way to Health

The most beautiful things in the world are not seen nor touched. They are felt with the heart.
– Helen Keller -

I am sending you my lovely reader, fresh breeze air and river drops from Cianjur, West Java, Indonesia to refresh your mind, body and spirit.

Many research show that viewing natural scenes has a positive health impact.

For example:

-         Ulrich (Ulrich, 1984), in a landmark study, demonstrated that hospital patients who viewed natural scenes, e.g. trees and animals from their wards, recovered faster, spent less time in hospital, required fewer painkillers and had fewer post-operative complications than those patients whose ward views consisted of other buildings and which were devoid of any appearance of plants and animals.

-         In prison, having a cell window with views of plants and animals, e.g. birds, lowered the number of sick calls of prisoners (Moore, 1981).

-         A number of studies have demonstrated that office workers experienced lower job stress, higher job satisfaction, and fewer illnesses if they had views of nature than if they did not (Kaplan and Kaplan, 1989; Lewis, 1996; Leather et al., 1998).

Placing trees next to freeways and roads, and having roads pass through and by green areas:

-         reduces driver stress as measured by blood pressure,

-         heart rate and sympathetic nervous system changes (Parsons et al., 1998).

In addition to physical health improvements, there is considerable evidence to suggest that psychological health is enhanced when a person views flora and fauna. Rohde and Kendle (Rohde and Kendle, 1994) concluded that viewing nature:

- reduces anger and anxiety,

- sustains attention and interest, and

- enhances feelings of pleasure.

The above benefits occur by viewing nature. Being in nature also impacts upon health. Many studies have shown significant health gains for those in contact with nature. Some of these relate to assisting new immigrants to a country to cope with the transition of migration. Wong (Wong, 1997) reported benefits such as:

-         increased empowerment,

-         feelings of integration, and

-         willingness to participate.

Exposure to nature was shown to:

- reduce mental fatigue,

-  irritability and accidents, and

- improve problem solving ability and concentration in people from urban areas who are located in a natural environment for a few days (Herzog et al., 1997).

Gardening is an international activity. For many it is propagating and growing one’s own food supply and/or providing food for others. Millions of people who live in urban environments cultivate gardens of varying sizes. In many cities community gardens exist.

Lewis (Lewis, 1996) and Furnass (Furnass, 1996) provide evidence to suggest that gardening:

-         reduces stress, encourages nurturing characteristics,

-         builds social networks and enhances social capital.

Even indoor plants have a positive effect. They have been shown to:

-         improve office air quality,

-         increase productivity and

-         facilitate relationships between workers (Randall et al., 1992; Larsen et al., 1998).

Physical, mental and spiritual health is all enriched when we engage with nature. It is a challenge for us to make sure it happens.