How Nature Helps Better Our Wellbeing

The Earth is an incredible place—full of life, beauty and wonder—and humans have been untapping and harnessing the power of nature since the beginning of time. 

For Swisse, it all started in the late 1960’s, when Swisse founder Kevin Ring set off on a quest to discover how nature can help us make the most out of life. From exploring deep blue oceans, wide open fields, mineral rich hills and lush green forests, Kevin Ring realised that we should embrace nature and all it has to offer to help nurture our bodies and feed our minds. 

Since then, there have been hundreds of studies which have examined the human–nature relationship and its impact on our lives. Recent research published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology in April 2020 suggests that people who spend more time amongst nature, or feel more connected to nature, report better levels of overall health, mental wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours. 

Of course, that doesn’t mean we have to leave our urban lifestyles behind to follow ‘the call of the wild’—we can find a connection with nature whenever and wherever we might be. Read on to learn how nature can help better our wellbeing and inspire us to lead healthier, happier and more balanced lives.

Nature is all around us

Each person has an inherent and co-dependent relationship with nature, whether we realise it or not. Swisse believes that the five pillars of wellness are essential for achieving a well-rounded life; and incorporating nature into these positive habits can help support our health and wellbeing even more. 

Getting in touch with nature is as simple as taking a walk in the park, soaking up the sun, dancing in the rain, looking up at the stars or feeling the grass or sand between your toes. But if that isn’t possible, BBC’s Real Happiness Project concludes that watching nature through technology can help us feel happier as well. 

Living in the concrete jungle and can’t always visit the great outdoors? Bring nature closer to home instead with indoor plants and natural textures. Popular house plants like Monsteras, Philodendrons and Peace Lilies don’t just add a beautiful touch of nature to living areas, they also help filter out pollutants and keep the air clean. Interior designers also recommend incorporating natural materials—such as wooden furniture, stone benchtops and organic fabrics—to transform your abode into an urban oasis. 

Nature boosts our wellbeing

Most of us would have seen, heard and experienced nature’s goodness, whether it’s watching a magnificent sunset or listening to the soothing sounds of waves. There are endless benefits of being amongst nature, and new research has found that spending as little as 10 minutes in a natural environment can help us feel happier and reduce the effects of stress. 

Breathing in nature also helps us tune into our senses. The more time we spend outdoors, the more mindful we are of what we see, what we hear, what we smell, and what we feel. In fact, therapists, practitioners and organisations promote ecotherapy (also known as nature therapy, green exercise or green care) to improve our relationship with nature and support better health and wellbeing. 

The Japanese have been practicing one such therapy, shinrin-yoku—literally translated to forest bathing—for centuries. This concept encourages people to spend time in the woods or other green spaces to immerse themselves in nature and use all five senses to connect with the environment. Experts and organisations worldwide often prescribe this approach for its therapeutic benefits, and best of all, it costs nothing and is so simple to adopt.

Prefer more of an active lifestyle? Ditch the treadmill and head for a run outdoors, or bring your weights, skipping rope and resistance bands to the park. Or if you’re even more adventurous, bouldering, mountain biking and kayaking are great ways to experience nature while keeping active. Being more connected to our natural environment can be linked to better performance, heightened concentration, increased problem-solving skills and improved creative abilities overall.

If you’re needing a little more inspiration, getting a breath of fresh air has also shown to increase oxygen levels, support energy levels and boost mental focus. We recommend finding some green space and following this breath-focused guided meditation to soothe the body and the mind.

Nature provides nourishment

We all know that the human body needs air, food and water to survive; but did you know that food is the most important element to help us really thrive? Fortunately, nature has an abundance of nutrient-rich produce and incredible ingredients, which makes it easy to have a nourished, healthy and well-balanced diet. 

Being mindful of what we eat, as well as eating food as close to nature as possible, can help us be more connected to nature while providing a plethora of nutritional benefits. We can embrace nature through food by planning meals around fresh produce that’s in season, whether it’s buying it from the farmers’ market or sourcing it from your home garden. This doesn’t just ensure that our ingredients are fresh, it also helps our bodies align with nature’s seasonal cycle and reap the full benefits from local harvests.

The homegrown food trend is also starting to take ground, with more people choosing to grow their own fruits and vegetables at home thanks to new innovations and technologies in urban gardening. Younger generations are even forgoing having large gardens or veggie patches, and are opting to start a vertical herb garden, grow an indoor hydroponic system, or plant sprouts and microgreens instead.

Despite our best efforts, there are times that we aren’t able to prepare wholesome meals or might even have some essential nutrients missing from our regular diet. This is where we should consider taking a supplement to help fill nutritional gaps or address specific health needs. Browse Swisse’s range of vitamins, supplements, probiotics and wellness products here. 

Nature activates altruism

Did you know that embracing the wonders of the world outside automatically fosters within us the urge to protect it? Environmental psychologists have argued that by staying close to nature, we feel more grateful and appreciative of what it has to offer to us. 

Researchers found that greater empathy and compassion towards the planet is the true driver for adopting more sustainable habits, like avoiding purchasing single-use disposable items like water bottles and composting leftover food to reduce the climate impact. Learn more about Swisse’s environmental mission here.

Swisse is dedicated to sourcing premium ingredients from around the globe—to climb the highest peaks and dive into the deepest oceans—all in the search to find nature’s most incredible ingredients. We know that the most amazing ingredients from nature aren’t always the easiest to find, but when we do, we can use it to help us lead healthier and happier lives.