Country explorers have long believed that big gulps of rural air boost your mood. Specialists now suggest that doctors should consider prescribing an everyday promenade in a park as a remedy for ongoing inflammation.
After examining 1,244 American men and women between 34 and 84 years old, researchers at Cornell University in New York found that 'more frequent positive nature experiences were connected with lower levels of systemic inflammation.'
It is stated that the impact extends far beyond the advantages associated with physical activity.
The precise manner in which exposure to nature brings about such an effect is not well understood.
One theory suggests that microbes emitted by plants and soil interact with bacteria in the human stomach to shield against the inflammation associated with many chronic conditions, including cancer and heart disease.
A reduction in stress caused by proximity to nature can lead to lower levels of inflammation.
In a commentary accompanying their research, Ohio State University psychologists observed: "As the research advances, giving individuals access to public parks and nature reserves may be as essential as providing access to hospitals and clinics."
At the individual level, it could be advisable for doctors to recommend a daily walk in the park as the initial treatment for inflammation, as it might be a more affordable and side effect-free alternative to medication.
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