How Plants Can Help Your Health and Wellbeing?
Updated: Jun 11, 2022
In nature, plants are everywhere. And many of them have therapeutic properties that can benefit your health in different ways.
Have you ever wondered how plants can help your health? Do you know that besides purifying the air we breathe, they also help you to relax? I want to tell you about some of the ways plants help your health, and I hope by the end of this blog post, you will come to think of plants a little differently – not just how they look, but what they can do for your health and well-being.
Let's visit some of the benefits that plants can offer you.
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Reduce stress
Many of us live with stress every day, and it can have a serious impact on our lives. Stress is the reason why we don't sleep well, doesn't let us focus at work, and can even affect our health. Fortunately, there are natural solutions to help us reduce stress levels. And one of them is plants. Indeed, according to WebMD: "Being around plants helps people achieve a healthier lifestyle."
Being exposed to ornamental plants, contribute to improving our mood and well-being, since they have a positive effect on reducing anxiety, blood pressure, and heart rate. The use of indoor plants generates an environment that transmits serenity and peace that helps reduce stress.
If you want to surround yourself with beautiful indoor plants to relieve your stress you can opt for the Crown of Thorns, Bromeliads, Orchids, or the Peace Lily.
Increase productivity
A study from the University of Exeter found that having plants in the office can increase productivity by up to 15%. The study also found that employees work better, faster, and more efficiently, are more creative, and make fewer mistakes when plants are present.
Another study conducted by Washington State University found that people who spend time in a room filled with plants are less stressed than those who spend time in a room without them. The researchers concluded that "green-plant displays had an immediate beneficial effect on stress reduction," and suggested that adding greenery to rooms could have significant positive effects on health outcomes. Therefore, the less stress, the more productive you will be.
Good alternatives in this category are the Lucky Bamboo Plant, Asparagus Fern, or the Chinese Evergreen.
Improve air quality
Plants are the best way to increase oxygen in your home, and better air quality is a wonderful way to feel refreshed and at ease. It’s no wonder that people who spend time in nature feel more at peace than those who only spend time indoors. It’s good to have plenty of plants in your home, but you don’t need as many plants as you may think!
You can increase air quality with plants by having just one plant per 10 square meters of space. Plants remove carbon dioxide from the air, which humans exhale and which is harmful to our health. They also release oxygen into the atmosphere, which is necessary for our survival.
Plants can also help reduce respiratory problems by removing volatile organic compounds (VOC) from the air. These compounds include formaldehyde and benzene and they can be found in all sorts of household items, including carpeting, cleaners, furniture polish, and even cosmetics.
Being exposed to these compounds for long periods of time can lead to cancer or other health problems such as asthma attacks and chronic bronchitis. If you want some peace of mind when it comes to your health then consider getting some plants for your home or office!
Some good air-purifying plants are the Chrysanthemum, the Rubber Plant, and the Bamboo Palm.
Better sleep
Better sleep is a strong reason to bring plants inside. If you’ve ever been camping, you know that sleeping outdoors can be one of the best nights of sleep you’ll ever get. It’s also peaceful and quiet, with no TVs or bright lights to keep you awake.
As mentioned before, plants help reduce stress, which in turn helps improve sleep quality. One study showed that hospital patients were able to sleep better when there were indoor plants in their rooms than if there were none present. And taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen through photosynthesis, helps you breathe easier and have a restful night.
A study from the Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia showed that the smell of plants can have a significant effect on your sleep quality. The study showed that people that smelled the fragrance of Jasmine did better on cognitive tests and had lower levels of anxiety upon awakening. Therefore, if you want to sleep better, bring some fragrant plants to your bedroom!
Here we have the English Ivy, Aloe Vera, and Lavender.
Make you feel happy
A study by the University of Exeter found that having plants around you could lead to a 37 percent reduction in depression, anxiety, and stress. Therefore, people that have indoor plants feel more optimistic. Plants lift your spirit, especially when you take care of them every day and see how they are growing and getting stronger and more beautiful with your care. That keeps you motivated, it gives you a reason to continue what you are doing and to get more plants to take care of. At the same time, this rush of happiness motivates you to engage in other daily tasks. Plants have the characteristic of being enchanting, you can feel joyful and full of life just by looking at them. Also, when you have visitors at home, their compliments about your plants will make you feel happy, too. So, if you're feeling down in the dumps, adding some greenery to your home can go a long way toward improving your mood.
If you want to feel happy, good options for you would be the String of Pearls, the Paddle Plant, or the Mini Jade Plant.
For all these reasons, it makes sense that we will be healthier and happier when surrounded by plants. After all, they've been shown to improve concentration, increase productivity and creativity, reduce stress levels, and make you happy. The most important key is to choose species that suit your environment and are easy to look after.
And as always, keep a healthy lifestyle and come back for the next topic.
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