A recent American study revealed that spending 20 minutes daily either walking or sitting in a place that makes you feel connected to nature significantly reduces stress hormone levels.

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan, and its findings were published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Psychology.

The researchers explained that connecting with nature and spending time in parks and gardens can be a low-cost solution to mitigate the negative health effects resulting from increased urbanization and modern sedentary lifestyles, which often involve long hours in front of screens.

To reach their findings over the course of an eight-week study, the researchers asked participants to spend time in natural surroundings for at least 10 minutes daily, at least three times a week.

During the study period, the levels of cortisol—a stress hormone—were measured using saliva samples taken before and after spending time in nature.

The researchers found that spending at least 20 minutes in nature, whether walking, relaxing, or sitting, reduced stress hormone levels in participants.

Excessive stress increases cortisol levels, which disrupts metabolism, causing feelings of hunger and the desire to eat frequently. This often leads to unhealthy eating habits, such as consuming fast food, which eventually results in obesity and related diseases, as well as poor sleep quality.

Some studies have also shown that stress may lead to depression.

To reduce stress, it is recommended to regularly practice mindfulness exercises, yoga, physical activity, nature walks, deep breathing, and relaxation techniques.

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