Plants are nature’s works of
art, and it’s good to know that they don’t just exist in our garden for us to appreciate them
or have them maintain the world’s ecological balance. In reality, almost all of
our needs come from them, and different types of plants have been proven to
benefit our health in a multitude of ways. Have you ever pondered on how
they make you healthy? Here are 8 ways:
1. Plants make you happy. A person with a
happy disposition has less risk for anxiety, stress and depression, and
appreciating the diverse beauty of flowering trees and ornamentals is a
wonderful way to maintain emotional health. Grinde and Patil (2009) evaluated
50 relevant studies on the impact of visual contact with nature on health and
well-being, and they concluded that an environment without flowers and trees
may have an undesirable effect on the quality of life.
2. They give oxygen. Oxygen is a product
of photosynthesis, and this is mainly processed by plants. They are part of the
ecological balance, causing anabolic chemical reactions to maintain the cycle
of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Simply put, we need them for oxygen, and we’ll
simply die without it.
3. They humidify our surroundings. Flora
around us contribute about 10% of the moisture found in the atmosphere, and
it’s released from the roots to minute pores of the leaves’ undersides through
a process called transpiration. Although the effect of this process may vary
from one location to another, it nevertheless contributes to the humidity
levels of our surroundings - and a humid environment keeps our bodies hydrated
as well.
4. They absorb toxins in the air. It might
seem that the only purpose of keeping potted ornamentals at home is to beautify
it, but did you know that potted houseplants actually absorb toxins in the air?
NASA studies recommend that air quality can be improved by having 15 to 18
good-sized houseplants in 6 to 8-inch diameter containers in your home, and
they do the job by absorbing toxins like benzene and formaldehyde. Talk about
natural filters!
5. Plants help us relax. Aside from
improving our mood, flowers and trees has a calming influence that helps us do
away with stress and worry. An article from the Wayne-Holmes Mental Health and Recovery
Board newsletter points out that gardening offers an array of benefits for the
body, mind and spirit, and ornamentals reduce anxiety and stress by stimulating
our senses. That’s why mental health facilities put some green in their
surroundings – it’s a form of milieu therapy.
6. Gardening improves school performance. A study conducted by Passy et. al. explored
the impact of school gardening on learning, and they found out that students’
performance have improved based on numerous learning outcomes, such as greater
scientific knowledge and understanding, enhanced literacy, increased environmental
awareness and other behavioral effects. Another study found that green
environments within the university contribute to improved attendance, higher
test scores, and decreased behavioral problems.
7. Trees cut noise. It’s surprising to
know that trees have a hand in decreasing noise in a particular place, and it’s
true that environmental flora absorb noise from bustling streets and blaring
car horns. An article from the College of Tropical Agriculture at the University
of Hawaii recommends that plants are effective in reducing external noises, and
people can maximize this through mass planting in key noise areas with the
right spacing and height. Why add boring walls when you can have trees as
natural barriers?
8.
Flowers
and trees heal us. Aside from their medicinal value, the sight of colorful
flowers, ornamentals and trees help people recuperate from illnesses, and foliage
plants and flowers in a hospital can dramatically reduce recovery time, pain,
stress and other complications. A study conducted by the Department of
Horticulture at Kansas State University reveals that plants in hospital rooms
have a therapeutic value, and having them is proven to be a non-invasive,
inexpensive and complementary treatment for surgical patients.
Plant plants now! Not only do
they make your home beautiful, they keep you healthy. And should you decide to
make a garden, make sure you buy the things you need in bulk to maximize the
value of your money.
To learn more about wholesale
plants, trees and ornamentals, click here.
Links:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19715461
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment