Living Near Green Environments May Improve Health

If you live around a lush green environment, you could reap the benefits of better improved, according to a recent study.

For the study, researchers from the Harvard T.S. Chan School of Public Health analyzed data from some 108,000 U.S. women from 2000 to 2008. They discovered that participants who lived in neighborhoods with green vegetation and landscapes experienced a 12% reduced risk of death compared to individuals who lived in suburban areas where there was little-to-no green vegetation present. 

Furthermore, researchers discovered that participants who lived in areas with the highest concentration of green vegetation had a 34% lower risk of death caused by respiratory disease and 13% lower risk of death caused by cancer.

But the benefits of living in or around a green environment don't stop there. Researchers noted that in addition to the physical benefits it offers, there was also a strong correlation between green living and mental health. In other words, people who live around green environments experience fewer mental and emotional problems when compared to people who do not live around green environments.

"We were surprised to observe such strong associations between increased exposure to greenness and lower [death] rates," said Peter James, a research associate at Harvard T.S. Chan School of Public Health and the study's lead author. "We were even more surprised to find evidence that a large proportion of the benefit from high levels of vegetation seems to be connected with improved mental health."

Unfortunately, though, not everyone has access to a lush green environment. If you live in the city, for instance, your view could be limited to towering skyscrapers with little-to-no natural vegetation. In cases such as this, you should make it a point to include green vegetation into your lifestyle. Even if you live in a major city, chances are there are still parks nearby that you can visit. New York City, for instance, has an estimated 1,700 parks, playgrounds and other recreational facilities.

Of course, you can also include green environments in your home or office. Strategically placing just a couple indoor plants throughout your home or place of work can improve air quality by filter airborne pollutants. It may not offer the same benefits as a thriving outdoor park, but it's still a simple and effective way to create a green environment.

This study was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.