5 benefits of living near a forest according to science
If you feel a sense of well-being when you are in a forest, you should know that there is a reason for this. In this article we will look at various scientific research that have documented outstanding physical and mental health benefits among those who live near a forest.
Better recovery in sick patients
One of the most classic studies in this respect are the experiments carried out by Roger Ulrich in a hospital in Pennsylvania in the 1980s. This researcher showed that patients who were in rooms with a view of trees recovered more quickly than those who could only see a cityscape.
In other words, the fact of having an open area with trees in view made a mental difference that could make a significant difference to their physical condition.
Help reduce stress
Even more recent is the research of a team of scientists led by Simone Kühn of the Max Planck Institute, who investigated the relationship between the proximity to the forest and alterations in various sections of the brain, finding a significant incidence with respect to the tonsil.
This component of the nervous system is not only essential for generating quick, instinctive responses, but also plays an important role in dealing with stress, which is why it was analysed in detail through nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, analysing the results of 314 adult subjects.
Research found that people living near wooded areas had a higher level of activity in the amygdala, leading to greater control of emotions such as stress.
This is very important evidence for the mental stability that close contact with the forest is capable of producing on human health. However, the experts point out that it is important to continue research to clarify that it is the natural proximity that produces this effect, and not that humans with this condition are the ones who have a preference for moving to forested areas.
Anti-particulate pollutants
According to the WHO, 1 in 9 deaths today is due to the air pollutionThis is intensified in cities where, as a consequence, the presence of respiratory diseases is also more frequent.
Scientists from The Nature Conservancy have documented that a tree is able to reduce the presence of PM 10 to PM 2.5 particulate matter - those small, harmful particles that are measured to establish levels of air pollution - by 7 to 24 per cent.
This means that living near trees is an important filter that significantly improves the quality of the air we breathe, which translates into better health and emotional stability.
Reduces the risk of depression
The amygdala is not the only brain area that has been found to be stimulated in people who live near the forest; other research carried out by scientists at Stanford University also came up with interesting results when comparing changes in people who performed a 90-minute walk every day The route was completely urban, with those of others who were doing a route of the same length, but in natural areas.
The first indicator that caught the scientists' attention was the fact that those who went on urban tours had a greater tendency to "ruminate", i.e. to wander and deepen their thoughts by analysing personal or past events.
Excessive preoccupation with such thoughts is considered a tendency for negative thinking, which leads to a higher incidence of depression or isolation among other psychological conditions.
In contrast, those who went on regular walks in the forest were able to focus more easily and were less preoccupied with such thoughts.
A group of specialists led by Gregory Bratman concluded that this was most likely motivated by the stimulation of the activity of the subgenual prefrontal cortex The brain, which encourages this type of self-critical thinking, was stimulated less. In cases where there were a few minutes to walk in natural areas, nature was stimulated less intensely.
Help to control room temperature
The WHO has also warned that at this rate, by 2050, there will be more than 250,000 deaths each year due to heat waves. As well as being another factor that generates stress and reduces concentration.
High temperatures are lethal and for this reason, cities with higher levels of environmental responsibility maintain constant reforestation programmes to stabilise rising heat levels.
This not only has a direct impact on human health, but also the proximity to the trees and the consequent stabilisation of the temperature means that the use of air conditioning can be avoided, also generating significant savings in electricity consumption, as research by The Nature Conservancy has highlighted.
To conclude
Forests are not only beautiful and relaxing landscapes, but deep down, there are multiple scientific factors related to positive issues. As you can see, it is no coincidence that the forest has always been a source of inspiration for artists, inventors and thinkers around the world, which is why, even without complex scientific research, a greater sense of well-being in general has always been inferred and linked to this type of outdoor space.
Perhaps also for this reason, countries such as Sweden, with vast areas of forest and a culture where walking on nature trails is common, have one of the longest average life expectancies on the planet.
So now you know, living near the forest is synonymous with better health and emotional stability.
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