How Immersion in Nature Benefits Your Health

How Immersion in Nature Benefits Your Health

Table of Contents

    Share

    Most of us appreciate how good it feels to be immersed in nature, whether it be a stroll in public park, a quiet moment in our backyard, an outdoor camping trip, or a hike through a picturesque landscape; but what does this really do for our health? Is time spent in nature nothing more than a good feel, or is there something about nature that offers us more substantial and longer lasting health benefits? If so, how much time spent in nature do we actually need?

    With more and more emerging evidence suggesting significant physical and mental health benefits from immersing ourselves in nature, some doctors are now advocating for prescribing nature visits during the routine delivery of healthcare to improve clinical outcomes (see https://parkrxamerica.org/about.php).

    What's more, a recent study led by the European Centre for Environment & Human Health at the University of Exeter found that those who spend two hours a week in natural environments are far more likely to report good health and high wellbeing than those who don't. In this 'exposure-response' observational study of nearly 20,000 participants, the authors controlled for residential greenspaces and potential confounders based on age, sex, socioeconomic status, health status, employment status, education, relationship status and physical activity and found that those who had contact with nature for at least 120 mins in the last 7 days were far more likely to report good health and wellbeing. The beneficial effects of nature immersion peak between 200 - 300 minutes (or 3 to 5 hours).

    While this is not an example of an interventional study (which is normally better designed to determine cause and effect), health guidelines have previously been developed based on similarly designed studies to determine the optimal type and duration of physical activity to optimise health outcomes (see https://www.ahajournals.org).

    Furthermore, an increasing body of epidemiological evidence suggests that greater exposure to natural environments such as beaches, forests and parks is associated with improved health and wellbeing for those living in urbanised societies. Evidence indicates that exposure to nature is associated with lower risk of mental distress, and is protective against physical conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hospitalisation from asthma, as well as reduced overall mortality.

    Sources:

    https://parkrxamerica.org/about.php

    https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44097-3

    https://www.ahajournals.org

    https://e360.yale.edu/features/ecopsychology-how-immersion-in-nature-benefits-your-health

    Leave a comment

    Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.

    What It Actually Does

    Ashwagandha is classified as an adaptogen - a substance that helps the body adapt to physical and psychological stress. But that description undersells the specificity of the evidence.

    In peer-reviewed clinical trials, ashwagandha root extract has been shown to:

    01

    Reduce serum cortisol levels significantly in adults under chronic stress

    02

    Support testosterone levels and muscle recovery in resistance-trained adults

    03

    Improve subjective measures of stress, anxiety, and wellbeing

    04

    Improve subjective measures of stress, anxiety, and wellbeing

    05

    Improve sleep quality and reduce time to sleep onset

    Why The Form Matters

    Here is where most supplement labels become misleading.
    The clinical trials that produced the evidence above didn't use generic ashwagandha root powder. They used standardised, patented extracts - specifically KSM-66® and Sensoril®, both of which are produced from roots using proprietary extraction methods that concentrate the active withanolides to a consistent, clinically meaningful level.
    Generic ashwagandha powder can contain anywhere from 1% to 8% withanolides. KSM-66® is standardised to a minimum of 5% withanolides with a full-spectrum root extract, which means it retains the natural balance of the plant's compounds rather than isolating one component.
    When you buy a supplement that says "ashwagandha" without specifying the extract form, you have no way of knowing whether it contains enough active compounds to do anything at all.
    At Arise, we use KSM-66® in every formula that contains ashwagandha. It's more expensive. It's worth it.

    Third-party Testing

    Supplements are not regulated the same way pharmaceuticals are. In most markets, a supplement company can put almost anything in a capsule and make almost any claim about it, as long as they don't claim to treat a specific disease.
    This is why third-party testing matters. It means an independent laboratory - one with no financial relationship to the supplement company - has tested the product to verify that:

    1. The ingredients listed are actually present
    2. They're present at the stated concentrations
    3. The product doesn't contain contaminants, heavy metals, or undisclosed substances

    Look for: NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Sport, or USP Verified certification on any supplement you take. These are the most rigorous third-party standards available.
    Every Arise formula is third-party tested before it reaches you. The results are available on request.

    The Honest Bottom Line

    Ashwagandha works. The evidence is genuinely strong. But the quality of the extract determines the quality of the outcome — and most of what's available on the market doesn't use the forms that the clinical research actually studied.
    Read the label. Ask for the extract form. Expect a specific answer.