Everyone Needs To Get Outdoors For Their Mental Health & Wellbeing

One of the easiest ways to get outdoors and into nature is to work in a garden.  This can be your own backyard garden or you can volunteer to help in a school or community garden.

Green exercise

But it does not have to be all about gardening.

There are so many benefits to be had from just five minutes – yes five minutes – of exercise in a park, on a nature trail or other green space will benefit mental health.

Of course, the longer you spend the more benefits you can accrue.

Soil as an antidepressant

Soil has been found to have similar effects on the brain as antidepressants – to lift the mood.

A study by the University of Bristol (and colleagues at University College London) looked at how mice exposed to ‘friendly’ bacteria normally found in soil, altered their behaviour in a similar way to that produced by an antidepressant.

Dr Chris Lowry, leader of the research said: “These studies help us understand how the body communicates with the brain and why a healthy immune system is important for maintaining mental health. They also leave us wondering if we shouldn’t all be spending more time playing in the dirt."

When the team looked closely at the brains of mice, they found treatment with the bacteria Mycobacterium vaccae activated a group of neurons that produce the brain chemical serotonin, which regulates mood.

If you are gardening:

• You will inhale the bacteria
• Have physical contact with it and
• Reap the benefits for up to three weeks

Just getting our fingers in soil releases serotonin, a feel good hormone – it’s the same as eating a bar of chocolate.

Vitamin D is vital for mental health too

Are you feeling depressed or unhappy?

Vitamin D is often called the “feel good” vitamin or hormone and those with high levels will generally be happier with their lives. The brain hormone associated with mood elevation, and known as serotonin, increases when exposed to bright light and that of course includes sunlight.

Sunlight is therefore key to raising vitamin D levels – exposure to sunlight frequently and between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm to as much skin area as possible until it starts to turn pink. When impossible, supplementation with good quality vitamin D3 along with some good fat (eg coconut oil or butter) and a dose of vitamin K2 to aid absorption. Adults need anything between 4,000 and 8,000 IUs of vitamin D3 supplements per day to achieve a minimum serum level of 40 ng/ml. If you can go higher, so much the better.

The secret is in regular testing.

Grounding is another way to interact with nature and the outdoors

Everyone can have a go at grounding.  You just need to find a grassy square or path, some sand or an open body of water. Then kick off your socks and shoes and go barefoot.  With your new found freedom, your feet can feel the nature beneath them.  

Grounding, also called earthing, is a technique some people use to connect their physical bodies to the earth's electrical energy.  And these are some of the benefits:

• It is very healthy for you and your feet to be connected directly to the ground helping you to reconnect with nature - especially as most of the time, our shoes and their thick rubber soles separate us from this.

• Living a fast paced life in the modern world can seriously disrupt the balance of our bodies and our minds.  When you spend some minutes grounding, this can help to neutralize any harmful effects by bringing you back into alignment with the earth's natural energy field.

• We have more than seven thousand nerve endings in each foot, meaning they are very sensitive.  These nerve endings are designed to send lots of information to the brain.  This includes messages about the environment around us.

• Going barefoot is helpful in reducing inflammation, improving circulation while promoting better sleep quality.

• Some studies have found that those suffering from anxiety and depression improved their mood after grounding while another study found that grounding helped to reduce blood pressure in those with hypertension. 

• Grounding can even clear the head so that you can better see what lies ahead and what you need to do! 

Here is where you will find even more information.

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