Can Being in Nature Actually Boost Your Immune System?
The Subtle but Powerful Health Benefits
Most of us understand that being out in Nature can be beneficial. Taking a break from deafening city noise and the buzz of technology to breathe in the scent of moss and earth and ferns. Hearing the birds sing and the squirrels chatter. Seeing the trees sway and the artful dancing of leaves in the wind.
Well, what if I told you that the content that floods many of us when we enter a forest isn’t just a feeling?
That feeling we get is from real chemicals produced by trees.
When we are tramping around in a forest, we are also breathing in phytoncides. Plants emit these airborne chemicals to fight off insects, bacteria, and fungi. They also help to protect vegetation from disease.
When we breathe them in, our bodies respond.
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A study by Japanese researchers found that when we expose ourselves to a forest:
- Special white blood cells called natural killer (NK) cells increase in number and activity.
- This increase helps to kill cells dealing with tumors or viruses.
- These increased NK numbers have been shown to last for more than a month after a 3-day trip into the woods.
- Japanese scientists are currently looking into whether this forest exposure could aid in preventing certain kinds of cancer.
In addition, studies have shown that spending time in forests, whether by exercising or simply sitting and looking at trees, reduces blood pressure and stress-related hormones.
Studies on the same activities in urban, treeless settings found that stress-related effects did not lessen.
I suggest we all start planning our next trip to immerse ourselves in nature and literally soak up its benefits.
