HEALTH NOW
GOING GREEN
Looking out at your garden from your home comes with more benefits than a nice view. A study from the University of Plymouth in the UK suggests that such passive enjoyment of green spaces can help to reduce cravings for unhealthy things, such as snacks, tobacco or alcohol. Researchers asked 149 participants about their exposure to nature, as well as how much green space was present in their neighbourhoods and whether they accessed it. They found that participants who had access to a garden – whether private or a community space – reported having less frequent and less intense cravings, and those whose homes looked over a large amount of green space (making up around 25 percent of the views) also saw similar benefits.
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