Scrub a dub dub, we’re sitting in the…forest
When was the last time you took a forest bath? No, it’s not a bubble bath in the woods. It’s simply spending time in nature; a simple action that can do a lot of good for your overall health. Think back to a time you were surrounded by nature – a hike through a forest, time spent in a garden, reading a book under a canopy of trees — did you feel calm, less anxious, less stressed than usual?
Studies have found that forest bathing can improve mood, reduce blood pressure, improve concentration, and even boost immune health. Theories suggest the fresh air, exposure to natural lighting, even the scent of the outdoors may be the reason why, and for the immune health boost – there’s a scientifically proven reason why and they’re called phytoncides.
Phytoncides are substances that plants and trees emit to protect themselves. They have antimicrobial properties that can help us ward off infection and other diseases. When you spend time in nature you breathe in the phytoncides that have been released and your body responds by producing more natural killer cells (a type of white blood cell that kills off tumour and virus-infected cells in the body).
Your care providers at Lakeside Family Dental believe it takes a holistic approach for a healthy body, mind and mouth. Of course, we recommended that you brush and floss, but we also hope you’ll try incorporating the odd forest bath into your overall health regime – brush, floss, forest!
