Americans now spend an alarming 93 percent of their time indoors.
We have become an indoor species, which is having consequences on our physical and mental health.
Staying inside is detrimental on its own, especially since indoor air can be 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. We’re also often sedentary and tethered to a digital device while inside.
But the bigger issue is we’re not reaping the powerful benefits of the great outdoors.
Spending time in nature helps protect against a wide range of diseases, including depression, diabetes, obesity, ADHD, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Getting outside has also been shown to make us happier and less anxious.
Although controversial, one of the biggest benefits of getting outside is the sun. In excess, UV rays cause sunburn and skin cancer, but small doses provide beneficial vitamin D — which could help explain why sunbathers actually live longer.
Healthy levels of vitamin D are essential for overall health, with profound benefits for the cardiovascular system, cognitive functioning, and for reducing inflammation.
Unfortunately our modern lifestyle has resulted in about 42% of Americans being deficient in vitamin D (a deficiency that impacts about 1 billion people worldwide).
