Living Near Trees Health Benefits: Living in Green Spaces Can Enhance Health by Improving Bone Health and Slowing Aging.
Results from a study conducted at the University of Louisville to investigate the impact of the environment and exercise on health reveal the benefits of living near trees. Researchers found that the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer is lower in people who live in neighborhoods with more trees and green spaces compared to those with fewer green spaces near their homes.
Living Near Trees Health Benefits, The exact cause of these positive health outcomes is not yet clear. However, based on previous research, living near green spaces can help improve overall health, including bone health and slowing the aging process. Exercising in nature also helps reduce stress and negative emotions.
According to NBC News, researchers at the University of Louisville designed a clinical trial in a 10-square-kilometer area in southern Louisville, divided by a highway. They monitored about 750 residents of this area, aged between 25 and 75, of whom nearly 80 percent were white and 60 percent were women. From 2019 to 2022, around 8,500 evergreen trees, 630 deciduous trees, and 45 different types of shrubs were planted in various areas under study, while some sections of the area remained unchanged.
Living Near Trees Health Benefits, The researchers, who collected blood, urine, nail, and hair samples from participants before the environmental intervention and tree planting began, found that the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein—a blood factor associated with heart disease—was 13 percent lower in people living in the areas under intervention. This reduction was reported to be similar to the positive effects of starting a regular exercise program.
Since most studies on the positive impact of nature on mental and physical health are observational, they cannot answer the question of whether people living in green communities are healthier due to being wealthier and having better access to healthcare or if it’s the effect of green spaces.
Living Near Trees Health Benefits, Aruni Bhatnagar, a professor at the University of Louisville who led this project, says: “We are trying to see if we can reduce the rate of heart disease in the community or not.”
Living Near Trees Health Benefits: How Do Trees Improve Health?
Living Near Trees Health Benefits, Previous research had shown that spending time in green spaces improves mental health, but this new study demonstrated a link between living near more trees and better physical health. Some reasons could include the following:
Trees create shade, cooling the area, which helps mitigate the urban heat effect, as hot weather exacerbates heart disease and can cause heatstroke in healthy individuals.
Living Near Trees Health Benefits, Trees also help reduce noise and sound pollution in cities, which is one of the factors contributing to cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, they provide space for relaxation, exercise, and, most importantly, socializing, and they help reduce air pollution by preventing the constant inhalation of harmful and inflammatory particles.
Experts emphasize the impact of green spaces and trees on health but believe that green spaces in cities are not distributed fairly, with some areas having fewer trees. They recommend urban planners create such spaces for all parts of the city and not increase housing prices in areas with more trees and green spaces so that everyone can benefit from this advantage.
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