Physical Benefits of Spending Time Outdoors

1. Sunlight Exposure

You miss a lot when you surround yourself with walls, and sunlight tops the list. Bringing more sunlight into our homes and workplaces can contribute improved health.

Vitamin D Production

Going outside gives you a good dose of vitamin D. Vitamin D is called the sunshine vitamin because sunlight hitting the skin begins the circuitous process — the liver and kidneys get involved — that eventually leads to the creation of the biologically active form of the vitamin Sunlight triggers the body’s vitamin D production, which important for your bones, blood cells, and immune system and helps us fight off inflammation, lowers blood pressure and improves brain function. By the chain reaction that sunlight has on your body - with vitamin D, the cholesterol in your body is then able to help the body absorb calcium. Many vitamins are obtained through food, but vitamin D is absorbed in your skin by what’s known as a photosynthetic reaction from sun exposure. If you’re never, ever out in the sun, then you’ll definitely be lacking this important nutrient unless you add supplements to your diet. It’s pretty much impossible to get the quantities of vitamin D necessary just in food. Very few foods include vitamin D and the ones that do have it in very small quantities. Some argue that Vitamin D obtained from supplements aren’t as good as those synthesized by the sun. Vitamin D is essential for supporting bones and also protects against chronic morbidities like cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

Circadian Clock

Exposure to sun-strength rays helps calibrate your body’s circadian “clock”,  

"Exposure to light-dark cycles is an absolutely crucial part of our biology as it regulates everything from appetite and sleep schedules to mood and energy levels, and that's due to the role of light in resetting our circadian clock each and every day “"It resets our clocks to be in tune with environmental time, and light is the primary time-cue. Light is an acute stimulant which directly alerts the brain. If you're exposed to brighter and bluer light in the daytime, then you get a better stimulant effect. Cells in your eyes need enough light to get your body’s internal clock working right. Early morning sunlight in particular seems to help people get to sleep at night. This may be more important as you age. 

2. Immune System Boost

The cellular activity that is associated with a forest's possible anti-cancer effects is also indicative of a general boost to the immune system you rely on to fight off less serious ills, like colds, flus, and other infections. Many plants put substances, including organic compounds called phytoncides, into the air that seem to boost immune function. 

Sunlight also seems to energize special cells in your immune system called T cells that help fight infection. Becoming one with nature might have some amazing effects on your immune system. One study showed that adults who hiked twice a day for three days increased their white blood cell count by 40%. With all these other salutary effects, it's no surprise that outdoor time — which usually involves walking — lowers blood pressure too.

3. Reduced Inflammation

Inflammation is a natural process the body uses to respond to threats like damage (e.g., a stubbed toe) and pathogens (e.g., exposure to the flu). When inflammation goes into overdrive, it's associated with a wide range of ills, including autoimmune disorders. Spending more time outside could help naturally reduce pain! A 2012 study found that students who were asked to spend time forest bathing had lower levels of inflammation than their counterparts who spent time in the city. 

4. Fitness

Even when strolling around, this is still a moderate movement that gets your heart beating faster and blood pumping more frequently. ‘This is good for keeping your body healthy, promoting consistent weight loss and management and improving blood pressure and heart health too. ‘Taking just 30 minutes a day to take a walk outside – especially if you spend a long time inside – can seriously improve your health.’

Walking outside makes you more likely to exercise, especially if you’re a kid. You don’t need a gym membership, transportation, or special equipment: Just walk right out your door. You can do many gym exercises at your local park with a simple incline, pull up bar, or set of steps. 

5. Eliminate Fatigue

You know that feeling when your brain seems to be sputtering to a halt? Researchers call that "mental fatigue. “One thing that can help get your mind back into gear is exposing it to restorative environments, which, research has found, generally means the great outdoors. One study found that people's mental energy bounced back even when they just looked at pictures of nature. 

6. Possible Anti-Cancer Effects

Research on this connection is still in its earliest phases, but preliminary studies have suggested that spending time in nature - in forests, in particular - may stimulate the production of anti-cancer proteins. The boosted levels of these proteins may last up to 7 days after a relaxing trip into the woods.

7. Better Vision

At least in children, a fairly large body of research has found that outdoor activity may have a protective effect on the eyes, reducing the risk of developing near-sightedness (myopia).

8. Energy Boost

According to research from the University of Rochester, 90% of people experience increased energy just by participating in outdoor activities. This boost of sudden energy can help inspire you to be more active, too!