Green spaces can help reduce cravings for smoking and drinking

A walk in the park can be so refreshing. Now even science backs it up! A new research was able to prove that being exposed to green spaces from your home has a link with reduced cravings for alcohol, cigarettes, and harmful foods.Published in the journal, Journal of Health & place, the study was the first to demonstrate that passive exposure to nearby green space can beneficial by lowering the frequencies and strength of these vices.This new study has been based on previous research that suggested exercising in nature can reduce craving by demonstrating the same.The research team said the findings added to evidence that point to the need to protect and invest in green spaces within towns and cities to the positive effect it has on public health. The team also suggested the causality of this link needs to be investigated further.“It has been known for some time that being outdoors in nature is linked to a person’s wellbeing. But for there to be a similar association with cravings from simply being able to see green spaces adds a new dimension to previous research. This is the first study to explore this idea, and it could have a range of implications for both public health and environmental protection programs in the future,” said the lead author of the study, Leanne Martin.

The study also measured the proportion of greenery in an individual’s residential area, the presence of green views from their houses, the access they had to a garden or allotment and their frequency of use of public green space.“Craving contributes to a variety of health-damaging behaviors such as smoking, excessive drinking, and unhealthy eating. In turn, these can contribute to some of the greatest global health challenges of our time, including cancer, obesity, and diabetes.Showing that lower craving is linked to more exposure to green spaces is a promising first step. Future research should investigate if and how green spaces can be used to help people withstand problematic cravings, enabling them to better manage cessation attempts in the future,” added Dr. Sabine Pahl, one of the researchers of the study.