There are many benefits that trees bring us; one of the most prominent being our health and wellness. For starters, trees produce oxygen, which is what we need to breathe and we exhale carbon dioxide, which is what trees need to absorb. One large tree is able to produce enough oxygen to sustain 4 people. However, it would take 5 trees in order to be able to absorb the carbon dioxide produced by one person. There are many other ways trees improve our health significantly and we here at Five Star Tree Services are going to go over what they are.
Benefits To the Environment
Air Pollution Fighter
The biggest environmental problem the world is facing today is air pollution. Not only is it bad for the environment but it is also bad for people and can cause them to get sick. Trees which have bigger leaves are able to filter out more pollutants. Additionally, there are some tree species that have more advantageous filtering abilities, like elm trees. This is due to them having hairy leaves that are able to trap the dirty air pollutants. Once they are stuck to these leaves, we aren’t able to inhale them.
Cooling Our Streets
During the summer, you might have noticed that there is a temperature difference when you walk under a tree. This is an actual fact, and not something you are imagining. Trees are able to help regulate temperatures in places like cities. They are able to reduce the temperatures by 2-4 degrees Celsius. This slight temperature reduction can mean the difference between having heat stroke and being ok. The canopy from trees is what helps to shade the sidewalks and keeps them from getting overly hot.
Benefits To Our Physical Health
Boost Immune Systems
There have been recent studies that show a correlation between improved immune systems and spending time in a forest. There was a study done in China with senior patients who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease whose immune system function ended up being better after spending time in a forest. Even though it’s not apparent as to why this actually happens, there is another study that suggests it’s the tree’s aromatic compounds that help to enhance our body’s immune system.
Improved Heart Health
There was a study done in Japan in 2019 where volunteers one day had to walk in an urban environment and then another day had to walk in a forest. The researchers studied the effects the walk had on their bodies. When the participants walked in the forest environment, researchers found that the patients cortisol levels were lowered, pulse rates, blood pressure, and sympathetic nervous system activity (which is related to stress), and simultaneously increased the patient’s parasympathetic nervous system activity (which is related to relaxation). These are clear findings that are tied to how heart health can be improved with a little forest exposure due to it also enhancing cardiovascular functions.
Benefits To Our Psychological Health
Provide Feelings of rejuvenation and relaxation
Even though it is a highly scrutinized topic, nature exposure can benefit people by minimizing stress, overthinking, and anxiety. A study of 585 young adults in Japan was reporting on the participants’ moods after they had been walking in a forest for 15 minute and after walking in an urban environment for 15 minutes. 52 different locations were chosen around Japan for these urban and forest walks. There were about 12 people participating per location. All the cases for those who walked through a forest, reported experiencing less confusion, fatigue, depression, hostility, and anxiety. They also reported increased energy, as opposed to the people walking in urban areas. It was easier to see these positive results in people who displayed being the most anxious to start out with.
Ease Depression and Stress
Beautiful nature can create serenity in people. It encourages physical activity as well as social connection, while subsiding depression. Going on nature walks also helps to reduce stress and this can lead to improved physical health. There has been other research that also suggests that taking time to walk around in the woods is a way for people to help themselves deal with modern living stresses.
How Five Star Tree Services Can Help
It’s always nice to leave the busy urban living behind for a little while and go for a beautiful nature walk. Since there are so many benefits and no drawbacks, why not give it a try? Trees offer so many advantages to our lives and our team at Five Star Tree Services is lucky enough to be able to take care of them for other people in their yards. If you need any Toronto Tree Care for your beloved trees, make sure to give us a call at (416) 990-3355!