Your Brain on Nature and the Importance of Getting Outside
According to a recent study funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans spend close to 90 percent of their lives indoors. Unfortunately, the concentration of indoor pollutants is two to five times higher indoors. For this reason alone, it’s important to find ways to get some fresh air as often as possible. One way to do this is with Colorado River kayaking. There are other reasons why fresh air is beneficial to both the mind and the body. Let’s take a look:
Brighten Your Mood
Exercise releases endorphins, which can put you in a better mood. In fact, just five to ten minutes of outdoor physical activity every day can improve your self-esteem and bring overall feelings of positivity. Occasional outdoor light exposure also reduces winter depression or seasonal anxiety disorder.
Boosts Vitamin D Production
Supplements can help you get the nutrients needed to keep your body healthy and to stave off disease, but the best way to assist your body with Vitamin D production is to get some sun. Just 10 minutes of exposure to the midday sun gives your body enough radiation to produce about 10,000 international units of Vitamin D.
Improves Eyesight
Staring at a computer screen every day can cause Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), which results in blurred vision, red eyes, double vision, and headaches. Even those who are overexposed to artificial light for long periods of time are more likely to become nearsighted. According to a 2007 study at Ohio State University, individuals who spend at least two hours a day outside are less likely to feel the effects.
Heals the Body
Exposure to natural light helps keep the body running as it should. People who spend more time outdoors often have less pain, sleep more soundly, and experience less functional decline as they carry out daily tasks than those who sit inside all day. In one study of surgical patients, those who spent a few hours outside each day required 22 percent fewer pain medications than those who stayed in bed.
Just 10 to 15 minutes of outdoor activity provides a wealth of both physical and emotional benefits. Imagine what a half-day or a full day of Colorado River kayaking can do for you. Schedule a tour with us on our Blazin’ Paddles website!