The Red, White, and Green

Photo via Flickr: Penningtron

Swapping the treadmill for the track may help curb energy consumption, but here’s another green reason to consider canceling your gym membership: It turns out that exercising in the great outdoors can greatly improve mental health.

The best part is, you don’t even have to find the time for a full-fledged wilderness trek; a mere five minutes in a green space like a park or garden can help eliminate stress and improve mood, report UK researchers in the latest issue of the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

From the BBC News:

The research looked at many different outdoor activities, including walking, gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, horse-riding, and farming in locations such as a park, garden, or nature trail.

The biggest effect was seen within just five minutes.

With longer periods of time exercising in a green environment, the positive effects were clearly apparent but were of a smaller magnitude, the study found.

Looking at men and women of different ages, the researchers found the health changes — physical and mental — were particularly strong in the young and the mentally ill.

Interestingly enough, the most beneficial setting for exercise may combine a bit of blue with that green; even more of a brain boost was found to take place in an area with a body of water, like a lake or river. Paddle boating, anyone?

–Jennifer Grayson

Do this now: Need some gym-free exercise inspiration? Check out tonight’s episode of The Lazy Environmentalist on the Sundance Channel, which features a green workout with my friend and trainer-to-the-stars David Shamash.

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