We all know that you can feel refreshed after a nice walk through the forest. But why? Is it the clean air, the natural beauty of nature or the healthy exercise? A group of researchers from Stanford University came up with an additional idea. They thought the nature effect might have something to do with reducing rumination, or, as they described it, “the repetitive thought focused on negative aspects of the self.” Rumination is also linked to depression. Their research shows they were right. Study participants who went on a 90-minute walk through a natural environment reported lower levels of rumination, compared with those who walked through an urban environment. According to the researchers, the results suggest that accessible natural areas are vital for mental health in our rapidly urbanizing world.
Walking in nature prevents depression, but why?
More of Today's Solutions
Monterey Park becomes first US city to permanently ban data centers
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Monterey Park voted 86 percent to 14 percent last Tuesday to permanently ban data centers from the city. ...
Read MoreHow the act of learning to read rewires the brain and changes the way you hear
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Learning to read does something to the brain beyond teaching it to decode text. A new study in ...
Read MoreThe future of sustainable fashion: self-healing mushroom-based leather
The environmental impact of the fashion industry has become an increasing worry in a society where fast fashion has been the standard. But there ...
Read MoreFDA finally pulls the plug on Red Dye No. 3 in food
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM After decades of debate, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned Red Dye No. 3 from ...
Read More
