Doctor's RX: Time in Nature

Getting outside to feel better is no longer just a helpful suggestion from your well-meaning mother. Researchers and doctors have now quantified the ideal amount of time needed to reap the health benefits of spending time outdoors, according to a recent paper published in the journal Scientific Reports.

So what is that recommended dose of time? About 2 hours a week.

In an article in the New York Times on the study, which examined data from nearly 20,000 people in England, it was found "that people who spent two hours a week or more outdoors reported being in better health and having a greater sense of well-being than people who didn’t get out at all."

The Times article goes on to state that "a wealth of research indicates that escaping to a neighborhood park, hiking through the woods, or spending a weekend by the lake can lower a person’s stress levels, decrease blood pressure and reduce the risk asthma, allergies, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, while boosting mental health and increasing life expectancy. Doctors around the world have begun prescribing time in nature as a way of improving their patients’ health."

So grab a paddle board, a canoe, a fishing pole, or some hiking shoes and come visit Splinter Creek. Tours of the property are available through the agents with Tom Smith Land and Homes at 601-898-2772. Do it for your health!