Sir David Attenborough has shared a simple piece of guidance for those wanting to reconnect with the natural world - and it could boost your health too. The 99-year-old broadcaster revealed his approach during a previous episode of Call Of The Wild, explaining it requires just 10 minutes.
"Sit down. Don't move," he told podcast host Cel Spellman in 2021. "Keep quiet. Wait ten minutes. You'll be very surprised if something pretty interesting didn't happen.
"Doing that in a woodland, if you haven't done it, it's extraordinary. Don't get too impatient, either." While Attenborough's approach may appear unrelated to health improvements, recent scientific findings indicate it could potentially be effective.
This includes a 2020 study from Cornell University, which found that students spending just 10 minutes in natural environments each day experienced reduced physical and mental stress. Consequently, 'nature therapy' is gaining recognition as an alternative approach for managing anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions.
"It doesn't take much time for the positive benefits to kick in - we're talking 10 minutes outside in a space with nature," said Associate Professor Gen Meredith at the time, according to the Mirror. "We firmly believe that every student, no matter what subject or how high their workload, has that much discretionary time each day, or at least a few times per week."
She then added: "This is an opportunity to challenge our thinking around what nature can be. It is really all around us: trees, a planter with flowers, a grassy quad or a wooded area."
Reducing stress not only enhances a person's mental health but also correlates with lower blood pressure, improved sleep quality, and even a potentially strengthened immune system. According to Professor Heather Eliassen of Harvard University, this may subsequently reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, too.
Right now, cardiovascular disease is responsible for a quarter of all deaths in the UK, as per the British Heart Foundation, equating to one death every three minutes. Professor Eliassen said previously: "Evidence is also accumulating that exposure to green space is associated with lower total mortality."
In the interview with Pop Sugar, she then added: "Better mental health and lower risk of psychiatric disorders with more green space exposure has been observed for both children and adults."
Alongside his 10-minute nature advice, Attenborough follows a largely plant-based diet and has significantly cut down on his red meat intake over time. His dietary changes align with increasing scientific concern about the connection between red meat consumption and serious health issues.
In a 2017 interview with The Sun, he reportedly said: "I have certainly changed my diet. Not in a great sort of dramatic way. But I don't think I've eaten red meat for months.
"I do eat cheese, I have to say, and I eat fish. But by and large, I've become much more vegetarian over the past few years than I thought I would ever be."
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