Walking for just 15 minutes a day can help reduce symptoms of debilitating illness that hits one in six adults – and is on the rise.
Daily Mail UK
Scientists have pinpointed the exact amount of time someone needs to spend outdoors to slash the risk of depression.
Experts found that spending just 15 minutes a day in nature was linked to better mental health, reducing levels of anxiety, depression and fatigue in research that examined nearly 450 separate studies.
However, intriguingly, the much-touted goal of exercising outdoors might be redundant, at least when it comes to boosting mental health, according to the analysis.
For the review headed by experts at Stanford University found that simply relaxing outside for 15 minutes was more effective in boosting mood than active time in nature.
Lead author Professor Yingjie Li said: ‘Our findings confirm that even brief nature exposure yields substantial mental health benefits, supporting evidence that momentary interactions can reduce anxiety, improve mood and boost cognitive function.’
The researchers found that being outside for over 45 minutes a day provided even greater reductions in stress and boosts in vitality.
Scientific studies have long found spending time in the countryside has a positive impact on a broad range of mental health conditions and some studies even claim it can boost heart health.
But, in the first study of its kind to distinguish the effect of different types of nature, the researchers suggested that even small city parks and forests could significantly reduce depression and anxiety.
