Intermountain Health logo

Please enter the city or town where you'd like to find care.

Get care nowSign in

Health news and blog

    Nature As Medicine

    Nature As Medicine

    Hiking Utah

    Scientific studies are showing that as little as 10 minutes in a natural environment (garden or park) improve psychological health such as mental cognition, mood, and empathy. The physiological benefits include a decrease in blood pressure, heart rate, and stress physiology in addition to increases in immune function, physical activity, contemplation and mindfulness. 

    An article published (April 3, 2012) in Biopsychosocial Medicine by Eva M Selhub, MD, and Alan C. Logan, ND,  suggested that a greater connection with nature can address many of the current day concerns about the increased rate of life style preventable diseases such as heart disease, cancer, obesity,  mental health disorders, and even the environmental crisis. Since we have so much natural beauty around us in the state of Utah, don’t forget to take time to enjoy it by spending 10 minutes or more (daily or weekly) getting away from the computer or TV or business of life and enjoy the journey to good health, naturally.

      “Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.

    WINNIE THE POOH

    mind and body