Renew You Challenge
Let’s start this week off right!
Weekly challenge (I mean, opportunity!) to help set you off on the right foot and in the right direction for bringing health to your week. You could even add it to your calendar. Join us!
Many studies have pointed out the health benefits of spending time outdoors. According to University of Illinois environment and behavior researcher Frances Kuo, the science behind these benefits is strong and clear, “In less green environments, we find higher rates of aggression, violence, violent crime, and property crime—even after controlling for income and other differences. We even find more evidence of loneliness and more individuals reporting inadequate social support.”
On the flip side, access to nature and greener environments improves cognitive functioning, self discipline and impulse control, and contributes to greater overall mental health. Greener environments also help recovery from surgery, improve immune function, help diabetics achieve better blood glucose control, and improve functional health status and independent living skills in older adults.
So this week, get outdoors! Find some green space and take it in. Then figure out how you can make it more of a habit so that you too can reap the good health that getting closer to nature can bring you.
While you’re at it, pick up one of the following houseplants, which were found to be the best at reducing indoor formaldehyde levels (formaldehyde is emitted from particle board, carpet, window coverings, paper products, tobacco smoke and more):
- Japanese royal fern
- Spikemoss
- Hare’s foot fern
- Guava
- Sweet lavender
- Spider fern
- Geranium