Dr. Mark and Dr. Chip's Healthy Blogs

How Immersing Yourself in Nature Benefits Your Health Analysis by  Dr. Joseph Mercola STORY AT-A-GLANCE Compared to no nature contact, spending 120 minutes or more in nature during the previous week was associated with a greater likelihood of good health or high well-being Getting recommended levels of nature exposure weekly could result in a similar magnitude of health gains as achieving recommended levels of physical activity Humans’ alienation from nature may lead to “diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties and higher rates of physical and emotional illnesses” In psychiatric patients, gardening led to improved mood and pro-social behavior while fostering a sense of community, belonging and shared purpose If you feel revived and energized after a hike through the woods or an afternoon in a local park, there’s likely an intrinsic reason why: Spending time in nature is good for your health. Although modern-day humans are, unfortunately, often disconne...

The Walking Revolution Analysis by  Dr. Joseph Mercola STORY AT-A-GLANCE U.S. inactivity and sedentary lifestyles cause obesity and other health problems Car-based lifestyles based on commuting from suburbs to job sites have greatly increased inactivity Incorporating walking into personal lifestyles can lower blood pressure, reduce susceptibility to diabetes and lower the risk of developing some cancers and cognitive decline Walkable communities and parks are making a comeback, often through the efforts of citizen activists Many, including the elderly, have taken up mall walking; in some places children now walk to school via "walking school buses" Most of us have some idea about the dangers of inactivity — the too common lifestyle that consists of going from the "couch to the car to the cube." But many think the alternative to a sedentary life is active working out and a gym membership. The excellent documentary "The Walking Revolution,...