Doctor says time outdoors can support physical and mental health

(Aging Untold) — Spending time in nature can be a healthy reset, according to a doctor who also practices wilderness medicine.

Dr. Nathaniel Mann, a Prisma Health emergency doctor, said time spent outdoors is one of the most powerful treatments he has seen, and he supports prescribing it.

“Humans, we really didn’t evolve to live in these big structured communities with all the traffic and lights and noise. Our genetic roots are in the outdoors and the surroundings that we see around us right now,” Mann said.

Doctor cites human history outdoors

Mann spent two years traveling the world, practicing medicine in remote environments. Across his years in medicine, he has found that being outside is one of the most powerful treatments.

Asked whether people should be prescribed time outside the way they are prescribed medicine, Mann said, “I absolutely think we should.”

He said he is personally an advocate for holistic health.

Sunlight and physical health

Mann said sunlight benefits the body, including through vitamin D development.

“Sunlight is beneficial for your body for vitamin D development and has links to improved cancer rates and decreased infections, and a whole host of other medical problems that are directly connected to your interaction with the sun,” Mann said.

Exercising outside can also have physical benefits.

Outdoor time and mental health

Mann said there is a lot of data and research on the psychological effects of being outdoors.

Mann said people spend a lot of time on screens, including phones, tablets and TV, and screen time is directly linked to anxiety and other psychological conditions.

Time outdoors does not require a long hike

Mann said time outdoors does not have to involve a long hike.

“It doesn’t have to be a hike seven miles in the woods,” Mann said. “We know that based on literature and data that even just 10 or 15 minutes outdoors, working in your garden or mowing your lawn or spending time on your back porch can equally yield significant benefits.”

Dr. Rhea Rogers discusses benefits of outdoor time

Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, said that when people get less sunlight, vitamin D levels go down and people start to see affective disorders.

“Sometimes one of the simplest prescriptions for the body and the brain is to step outside,” Rogers said.

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