People generally enjoy being outdoors, with parks, trails, and community gardens being the most popular venues.
But what makes outside activity so much better for your health?
Heres what experts say.
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This includes parks, trails, and forests, according to Maddock.
For instance, walking on a vegetated trail or doing pushups in a park.
People in the U.S. spend about 90% of their time indoors.
Further, theair indoorscan be two to five times more polluted than the air outside.
Being active inside means you miss the extra benefits of being outside in natural controls, said Lanza.
Being active outdoors, in natural parameters, provides a potential triple benefit for our health.
We are trying to figure it out.
We dont know exactly what it is yet, said Maddock.
This connection may explain why natural environments have restorative effects on attention and mood.
The outdoors is not without risk.
These environments can be enjoyable ways to integrate any outdoor activity into your exercise routine.
And you dont have to transition outside all at once.
Lanza added that making a plan is a key step, too.
Next, decide on the types of physical activities you want to do.
If going alone, consider letting someone else know your plan or taking your phone.
If you think you could be having symptoms, stop the activity and move to a cool place.
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Benefits of exercise.
Maddock JE, Frumkin H.Physical activity in natural configs: an opportunity for lifestyle medicine.Am J Lifestyle Med.
