Thousands of viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms await us outside. Some are good for us, others are bad for us. Therefore, our immune system has learned to cooperate with those who are "benign" and to defend against those who harm us (the immune system of a healthy organism is still the most sophisticated security system in the world).
Although we have reduced most of the world's forests for the needs of charcoal, toilet paper, building materials, etc., the remaining forest still offers us an incredible boost to the immune system. Almost 1,000 scientific studies point in this direction: nature is not only nice to have, it is necessary to have it for physical health and for our cognitive functions (source: research by the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies).
For example, studies with schoolchildren and the elderly show that spending time in nature can significantly reduce the chances of inflammation. Besides, they are research Nippon Medical School in Japan showed that the time spent in the forest increases the number of natural "killer cells" (large granular lymphocytes) that stimulate our immune defenses by increasing the activity of these antiviral cells. What's more, this research showed that visiting the forest increases the amount of intracellular anti-cancer proteins, and this effect is said to last for a whole week after wandering in the forest. None of these effects were detected during city walks.
Another study, for example, shows that natural aromas secreted by evergreen trees, known as phytoncides, are linked to improved immune system activity. Yet another study, published in 2016 on Environmental Health Perspectives, found, for example, that in people who lived in close proximity to nature, 12 percent lower mortality. And this after they included the socio-demographic background of the participants and smoking habits.
So our immune system needs a forest. A healthy wild forest, not a sterile city park. At a time when public life is at a standstill due to the outbreak of Covid-19, when many activities are canceled, it is a good time to think about what we can do for a better immune system. And to start, let's go to the forest. (Source: naturalintelligence.info)
