Countless reasons justify the use of plants at home – but did you know that the health benefits are you one of them?
From the air purification to the reduction of stress, filling your home with plants is an easy way to increase happiness and promote healthy living. If you are looking for reasons to increase your green collection, check below how to incorporate fresh plants can help improve your health:
Plants reduce stress
In 2010, one japanese study explored the effects of Shinrin-yoku or “bathing in the forest”. The study concluded that spending time in nature reduces stress levels, lowers blood pressure, and has an overall relaxing effect on the body.
However, most of us spend 85% of our time in indoors and you just can’t walk through a forest every day to de-stress.
Fortunately, indoor plants are an easy way to bring nature indoors and harvest your own. restorative and calming effects. A study published in Journal of Physiological Anthropology showed that active interactions with plants – such as pruning, touching and smelling – have the same relaxing and stress-reducing effects as spending time in a forest.
So the next time you’re stressed, overworked, or just in a bad mood, don’t think twice about spending some time enjoying your plants!
Plants improve air quality
The famous air purification study of the NASA pointed out that one of the most notable benefits of indoor plants is their ability to improve air quality around you. Plants not only increase the oxygen in our homes, but their root systems are incredibly effective at removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
VOCs such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichlorethylene are found in everyday materials such as paints, carpets and plastics. NASA found that houseplants act as natural air fresheners and can remove up to 87% of toxins in one day.
Plants increase productivity and creativity
Who doesn’t want to enjoy every day more? One of the lesser known health benefits of having plants is that they improve cognitive function. A study of texas a&m found that having indoor plants in the workplace greatly improved the generating ideas, creative problem solving, and concentration.
A similar study of University of Michigan also showed that being around plants increases memory retention by up to 20%!
So if you’re having a creative slump or having trouble concentrating, adding some plants to your desk or studio could be just what you need to unlock your next big idea.
*Via bloomscape