Kate says nature has been her ‘sanctuary’ during cancer recovery – why it can be so good for our health
From lower stress to better immunity, here are four doctor-backed benefits of nature.
The Princess of Wales shared new insights into her cancer recovery and about the important role nature played in this journey in a rare interview.
In a special issue of Country Life, guest-edited by her husband the Prince of Wales, she described how nature has been her “sanctuary” that taught her how healing requires rest and reflection.
The future queen said: “I was told in hospital that my recovery would not be linear.
“There will be good days and bad days, that it will take time.
“This is the same in nature. It shows us that periods of rest, reflection and renewal are equally as important as moments of growth.”
She described nature as offering something unique.
The princess added: “It doesn’t ask anything of us. It doesn’t judge us or expect us to perform.
“It simply allows us to be. It really has been my sanctuary and a place I’ve instinctively wanted to go.”
The mental benefits of spending time in nature have been widely cited, but what impact can the great outdoors have on our physical health? We spoke to Dr Nikki Ramskill, GP and founder of The Female Health Doctor Clinic, to find out…
Improves your sleep
“If you go outside and into nature when it’s light first thing in the morning, that can help kick start your circadian rhythm,” says Ramskill.
She explains: “Ideally, we need nice natural light in the morning because that helps start the process of getting our hormones all into alignment, so that by the evening we’ve got plenty of melatonin being released, which will help get us ready to go to sleep.
“So, getting out for a walk in nature first thing in the morning can be really useful to help all these processes reset.”
Having a good sleep wake routine can have lots of positive knock-on effects for our health.
“If we’re sleeping well, we are more likely to make healthier choices when it comes to things like exercise and food,” says Ramskill. “For example, if you’re tired you might want to stay in bed a bit longer and not go to the gym or do any exercise.
“In addition, if you are tired you are also much more likely to reach for heavy carbs, sugary stuff and coffee to keep you going.”
Lowers stress and boosts heart health
“Stress can trigger our sympathetic nervous system, which is the process what drives us to run away from things or fight, which releases cortisol and adrenaline to prepare our body for that. But sustained high cortisol levels from chronic stress can negatively affect your cardiovascular health,” explains Ramskill.
“However, when we spend time in nature that triggers our parasympathetic nervous system which helps our body relax.”
She highlights how being out in nature can help quiet the mind.
“When you spend time in nature and are present in that moment and stillness that means you’re less likely to be thinking about anxiety about the future or the past,” says Ramskill.
“If you are anxious your heart rate’s probably going to be high, so if you can try and stay in the present moment outdoors as best as you can, even for just 10 minutes, that can have a positive impact on your heart as it just helps calm everything down.”
Increases exposure to vitamin D
Being out in nature and getting that exposure to sunlight helps your body synthesise vitamin D which helps your body absorb and use calcium.
“We need vitamin D for our bones and for general health,” says Ramskill. “For example, women that have been diagnosed with things like multiple sclerosis and pregnant women are often told to take vitamin D.
“If we’ve got good levels of vitamin D, then it means that everything’s ticking along as it should do.”
However, it can be difficult to maintain a good level of vitamin D in the colder months.
“Between September and March, sun and vitamin D exposure is usually very low. So, it might be worth topping up with a vitamin D supplement,” suggests Ramskill.
Boosts immune system
Some research suggests that spending time in nature can help boost your immunity.
“There’s some research about natural killer cells, which can help to get rid of viral infections, that suggests that if you go into a forest and engage in forest bathing, that might help improve the activity of these cells,” says Ramskill.
She adds that anyone can boost their time in nature, even if they live in a city.
“Try and find local green spaces because even places like London have little pockets of green spaces,” advises Ramskill.
She also recommends bringing nature indoors.
“Buy some house plants and introduce a green zone in your house,” suggests Ramskill.