The verdict is in—Nature offers powerful, broad-spectrum health protection. That was the resounding conclusion from the largest and most comprehensive evaluation to date.

For this landmark report, researchers combined data from over 140 studies involving over 290 million people living in 20 different countries, including the US, Europe, Australia, and Japan. They uncovered that people with the most green-space exposure enjoyed significantly superior protection from the following list of maladies: type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, preterm birth, premature death, stress, and high blood pressure.

For this report, green space was defined as undeveloped natural landscapes as well as urban green spaces (city parks, street greenery, etc.) Regarding Nature’s potential “active ingredients” responsible for these amazing findings, the list is remarkable. They include volatile organic compounds released by trees, vitamin D/sunlight, fractal visual patterns, melodic bird sounds, beneficial soil bacteria, cleaner air, and negative air ions, amongst others.

Based on personal experience, as well as an impressive body of published science, I am convinced that Mother Nature is our best-kept secret for better health. Strive to get more of her! (Environmental Research, July 6, 2018)

Experience nature at a Plum Hill Wellness Retreat!

November 9th