Researcher: Better to run in the woods than on a treadmill

What the two hours of nature do with us is not entirely clear, but it may have to do with the fresh air and that we move more in the forest.

- You get more emotional benefits if you run in the woods, instead of on a treadmill indoors, says Terry Hartig, professor of environmental psychology at Uppsala University. He is co-author of the study.

Previous research has shown that it offers health benefits to living in green urban areas. It can reduce the risk of suffering from obesity, type 2 diabetes, asthma and mental illness. This study shows that those who do not have the benefit of living in the green can compensate for it by going out into nature.

In addition, it seems good to stay in the forest without moving, it gives the effect of just sitting in the forest.

"It provides an opportunity to reflect on the course of life, gain perspective and find ways to deal with problems," says Terry Hartig.

Swedish research also shows that there are other environments that can be beneficial for us.

- We have done a study that shows that a visit to a cafe, a mall or an urban park can also be recovery, says Helena Jahncke, associate professor of occupational health science at Gävle University.

She points out that the important thing is to create the variation between different activities, if you have a physically demanding job then you may need to devote yourself to something mental in your spare time.

- Create distance! Choose an environment that gets you engaged without making demands on these resources that have tired you out during the day, says Helena Jahncke.

The study was published in Scientific Reports.

Want to know more about how nature affects our mental and physical health? See the program Freshness of Nature in the World of Science on Monday, September 2 in SVT2, at. 20:00. The program can also be viewed already on SVT Play.