Here's how cycling and walking in nature can improve your mental health

A new study has found that people who commute through natural settings and environments are better off mentally than those who don't. Venturing through natural green and blue spaces can work wonders for one's mental health, the study states. “Mental health and physical inactivity are two of the main public health problems associated with the life in urban environments. Urban design could be a powerful tool to confront these challenges and create healthier cities. One way of doing so would be investing in natural commuting routes for cycling and walking,” said Mark Nieuwenhuijsen from the University of Barcelona.



“From previous experimental studies we knew that physical activity in natural environments can reduce stress, improve mood and mental restoration when compared to the equivalent activity in urban environments,” said first author Wilma Zijlema from the varsity. “Although this study is the first of its kind to our knowledge and, therefore, more research will be needed, our data show that commuting through these natural spaces alone may also have a positive effect on mental health.” As per the research, respondents commuting through natural environments on a daily basis had on average a 2.74 point higher mental health score compared to those who didn’t. Stay tuned for more updates.