Your New Daily Multivitamin
Let's start with the bad news. This multivitamin is not a tasty little gummy treat like the one I take everyday (because I'm an important adult). The good news? It costs $0 and it's always in stock. Turns out, time in nature is one of the best ways to boost your immune system and prevent illness and disease. Some might say that's important right now.
Let's talk about how it works and why you should care.
I'm not going to reinvent the wheel, especially when something so perfect and fun already exists to explain what I'm talking about. Dr. Calabrese of Case Western Reserve put together a quick little illustrated slide show that explains (to all ages) how you can strengthen your immune system to fight against infections. I hope you can spare a minute to check it out, but if you're in a hurry, here's the gist.
The best way to boost your immune system and fight against infection is to take care of your whole body. For example, do things that promote heart health (like exercise) and brain health (like sleep), and limit things that promote inflammation in the body.
How does nature fit in?
I talk a lot about the benefits of nature - mentally, emotionally and physically. It’s important in general, but super relevant given the health crisis we’re currently facing. Interestingly, newer research isn’t just focusing on what the benefits are, but explores what the connection is. They WHY and HOW behind the benefits of nature. Turns out the immune system is the likely key - it’s seen as the “pathway” between nature and good health, according to Ming Kuo (Ku-oh), University of Illinois environment and behavior researcher.
"Nature doesn't just have one or two active ingredients. It's more like a multivitamin that provides us with all sorts of the nutrients we need. That's how nature can protect us from all these different kinds of diseases--cardiovascular, respiratory, mental health, musculoskeletal, etc. -- simultaneously."
You’ve probably heard of the “fight or flight” mode and how it shuts down everything that's nonessential, including the immune system. The idea here is that exposure to nature switches the body into "rest and digest" mode. Kuo says that "When we are in nature, we’re in a relaxed state (rest and digest mode). Our body knows that it's safe and it invests resources toward the immune system.”
Of course there are non-nature based activities that allow us to get into the “rest and digest” mode too - meditation, puzzles, journaling, etc. Some similar benefits occur there, but they’re missing a lot of the other active ingredients found outdoors that promote health benefits. So the boost and benefits are greater when you're outside and in nature.
The takeaway? Consider nature the best, time-tested multivitamin you can buy (except it's free). We recommend you take it everyday.
