Living Near Greenery May Help You Live Longer

Here's a curious one. After Harvard researchers monitored 108,630 women over eight years, they used satellite imagery to track how much seasonal vegetation they were surrounded by at home. After eight years, 8,604 of the women died. After controlling for socioeconomic status, age, race, body mass index, physical activity, smoking, education and other health and behavioral factors, they looked at how much greenness there was in the 250-square meter area surrounding their homes. What they found was that those with the highest amount of greenery were 12 percent more likely to survive than those with the lowest amount of greenery. The study's lead author theorized that this is because they had less air pollution, more physical activity, more social engagement and, most significantly, better mental health, as measured by a lower prevalence of depression.

Someone forward you this email? No Sweat! Sign up here to get your own If you're having trouble viewing this email, click here Follow Us Living Near Greenery May Help You Live Longer After Harvard researchers monitored 108,630 women over eight years, they used satellite imagery to track how much seasonal vegetation they were surrounded by at home. After eight years, 8,604 of the women died. After controlling for socioeconomic status, age, race, body mass index, physical activity, smoking, education and other health and behavioral factors, they found that those with the highest amount of greenery within 250 meters of their homes were 12 percent more likely to survive than those with the lowest amount of greenery. The study’s lead author suggested that this might be because they had less air pollution, more physical activity, more social engagement and, most significantly, better mental health, as measured by a lower prevalence of depression. Nicholas English Content Manager of About.com Health How Exercise Can Help You Manage Depression READ NOW Forest Bathing Isn't What You Think    READ NOW Why Exercising Outdoors Is Healthier Than a Gym    READ NOW 10 Things to Stop Doing If You Want to Live Longer READ NOW Trending Now • How Can We Close the Health Gap in the Black Community? • Feeling Tired? Try These 13 Foods High in Iron • The Root That Keeps You Heartburn-Free • 18 Defense Mechanisms People Use for Anxiety • What to Eat If You're Exercising Regularly • 5 Things You're Doing Wrong After Exercise • How to Make a Healthy Greek Gyro Advertisement About Health  |  Follow Us You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Health newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York, NY, 10036 © 2016 About.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.