Masters of Health Magazine June 2022 | Page 83

It’s In Our Nature

Dr. Eric Plasker, DC

It’s in our nature to want to spend time outdoors. At 100 Year Lifestyle we have always encouraged people to get up, get out, soak in the sun to get your vitamin D, and just enjoy being outside. But our connection to nature runs deeper. If you aren’t spending enough time in nature, you aren’t maximizing your 100:100, living at 100% for 100 years…or more. Here’s why.

Live Longer

First off, living with nature can actually help you live longer. A study was done by researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The study was a nationwide investigation into risk factors for major chronic diseases in women. It examined more than 108,000 women from 2000 to 2008. 

The researchers compared the risk of death with the amount of plant life and vegetation near the women’s homes and found that women living in the greenest areas had a 12% lower death rate than women living in the least green areas. 

Specifically, women in greener areas had a 41% lower death rate for kidney disease, a 34% lower death rate for respiratory disease, and a 13% lower death rate for cancer than those living in areas with less greenery.

It’s a Lifestyle

The team believes that a similar study done with men would result in the same findings. However, it is important to note that 84% of the study participants lived in urban areas. You don’t need to live near a park to benefit from nature. You just need to include nature in your lifestyle. “The study,” according to study author Peter James, “is another step in adding to the evidence that nature may be related to better health.”

This study is just part of a growing body of research that all points to the positive effects that exposure to nature has on our health.