A Walk in Nature is its Own Form of Therapy

Rebecca Hill
2 min readOct 11, 2017

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A Walk in Nature is its Own Form of Therapy

We all know the mental and physical benefits of exercise, but the gym doesn’t compare to the great outdoors. Walking in nature has been proven to alter the blood flow and activity in your brain, reducing stress and anxiety.

Poor arch support, injury, or bio mechanical issues can make it difficult to exercise. Orthotics and foot care treatments help you to improve mobility so that you can strengthen your body and mind.

In Physiomed’s newest infographic, “How Walking in Nature Actually Changes Our Brains … for the Better,” we highlight the mental and physical benefits of this activity.

THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL BENEFITS

Walking in nature can benefit your overall health.

Walking reduces sugar cravings, lowers the risk of breast cancer, provides arthritis relief, and helps you live longer. When you walk in nature, you’re giving your immune system a boost and assisting your body in building anti-cancer cells.

This form of exercise can help you to not only live healthier but also happier.

A Stanford study found that walking in nature can decrease blood flow to your subgenual prefrontal cortex — the area of the brain often linked to mental illness. Participants who walk in nature saw a decrease in negative thoughts and improvements in cognitive function. In fact, the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that just 20 minutes spent in nature can lead to a 13.4% drop in cortisol, your body’s primary stress hormone.

NATURE WALKS FOR CITY DWELLERS

With more than half of the world’s population living in cities, many people find it difficult to participate in nature walks.

City-dwellers often experience increased stress, anxiety and depression — and chronic stress can contribute to a slew of other health problems. However, this doesn’t mean people living in rural areas are happier.

Simply walking through a city isn’t the solution. Walking in nature offers significantly more mental, neurological and physical benefits compared to urban walking, according to recent research. The goal is to make time to be in nature, regardless of where you live.

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Rebecca Hill

Outreach Coordinator #blogger #traveller Loves #music and mostly, #familytime