“In the last year, nature has been my sanctuary”. With these words – simple, but very deep – Kate Middleton he told in his latest video, published on official social channels of the royal familyhow much the contact with the natural world helped her face the most difficult battle of her life: that against cancer.
Shared on the occasion of the Mental Health Awareness Weekthe video shows the princess of Wales immersed in the uncontaminated landscapes of the island of Mull, in Scotland, during a walk alongside Prince William.
Next to the images, a message that has already become viral: “The ability of nature to inspire us, feed and help us to heal and grow is boundless and recognized for generations. It is through it that we can understand the interconnection of all things, the importance of balance, renewal and resilience “.
Instagram Content
This content can also be viewed on the sitite it Origintes from.
It is not the first time that Kate Middleton tells how much nature is a refuge for her. Already in 2019 he had designed the “Back to Nature” garden for Chelsea Flower Show, underlining the importance of contact with green for the development of children. Today, that link becomes a universal message: in a hyper-contemporary, stressful and often alienating world, return to nature can make a difference.
But that of the princess is not an isolated case. More and more studies show how Nature has a concrete impact on our psycho-physical well-being.
Because nature makes us feel better: physical benefits
Science confirms the words of Kate Middleton, and what many people experience intuitively: spending time in the open air is good. This is because ours body responds in a tangible way to the presence of naturethrough measurable and studied mechanisms for some time.
One of the studies More mentioned in this regard dates back to 2019: published on Nature Scientific Reports involved over 20 thousand people and noted that Passing at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with significantly higher levels of perceived well -being and general health. Curiously, the benefit does not increase proportionally: two hours seem to be the minimum threshold to trigger a positive impact, even if it divided into small doses during the week.
But what happens, exactly, when we find ourselves in a park, are we immersed in a forest or simply walk along tree -lined? Experts speak of a reduction of cortisol levelsthe stress hormone, together with a lowering of blood pressure and heart rate. Our parasimpatic nervous system – the one that helps us to relax – comes into action. The body “stops fighting” and recharges.
The results that emerged from the studies conducted in Japan on the so -called Shinrin-Yokuor “Forest Bathing”. Professor Qing thereone of the main experts on the subject, has observed as well as just 20 minutes immersed in a wooded environment They can increase the activity of the NK (Natural Killer – i.e. those cells whose feature is precisely, as the name says, kill the cells infected with viruses and tumor), crucial for our immune system.
It is therefore not a question of romanticism, but of a deep biological responsewhich reminds us how much we are still – and always – part of nature.
Nature and mental health: what neuroscience say
If the physical benefits are now well documented, those related to mental health They are perhaps even more surprising. More and more neuroscientists are exploring the link between natural environment and psychological well -being, coming to conclusions that strengthen the intuition of Kate Middleton: Nature takes care of us inside.
A research has shown that Walk for 90 minutes in a natural environment (compared to an urban context) reduces the activity of the subgenual prefrontal cortex, a brain region associated with the Mental rumination and depression. In other words, nature helps to extinguish that continuous flow of negative and self-critical thoughts that often feed anxiety.
Others studies instead they detected that people who live or work close to green spaces have Lower rates of anxiety and depression disorderswith a better ability to manage stress. Indeed, exposure to nature has been connected to a Increase in satisfaction in lifeof vitality and social trust.
The explanations? They are manifold. Some talk about biophiliathat is, the innate human need to connect with nature. Others highlight how natural stimuli – sounds, colors, light – have a calming effect on the nervous system: our brain, in a natural environment, is not bombed by artificial inputs but can finally slow down, process, regenerate itself.
Not surprisingly, different studies show an improvement in the ability of attention, memory and creativity After a simple immersion in nature. It is as if the brain could “breathe”.
Stay outdoors today: a modern need
Never as today, The need of nature has become a cultural and social question. We live in a world dominated by technology, where the time spent in front of the screens has passed the one spent outdoors, and where often the urban environment – frenetic, noisy, artificial – feeds anxiety and disconnection.
According to the World Health Organization, People who live in industrialized countries spend on average between 80 and 90% of their time in closed environments. A figure that translates into sensory isolation, lack of exposure to natural light and a general weakening of our psychophysical balance.
It is no coincidence that we speak more and more often about Nature deficit disordera term coined by the writer Richard Louv to describe the consequences of detachment from the natural environment; especially in children. Lack of concentration, irritability, insomnia and anxiety are just some of the symptoms related to this new form of “environmental malnutrition”.
In this scenario, Kate Middleton’s message acquires a particular resonance. Not only as a personal testimony, but as a collective invitation to regain our relationship with the natural world.
How to reconnect with nature (and with yourself)
“It is through nature that we can understand the importance of balance, renewal and resilience,” said Kate Middleton in his video. A statement that contains a simple but profound invitation: find authentic contact with the natural environment to rediscover a often forgotten part of itself.
Reconnecting with nature does not require striking gestures, and certainly does not necessarily mean starting for a trip to remote places. Often small gestures are enough, accessible to everyone, to awaken that instinctive bond that combines us with the natural world.
Spending time in a city park, walking without haste along a tree -lined path, listening to the sounds of a river or bird singing can already represent a powerful instrument of rebalancing. Immerse yourself in green spaces after a day of work, open the window to let the natural light enter, or bring more plants to the home: each action can contribute, even symbolically, to reconstruct a dialogue with the outside world.
Doing short stops outdoors – even if only 10 or 15 minutes a day – can generate measurable benefits, especially if experienced with awareness. Sitting on a bench in silence, leave the phone in your pocket and observe the surrounding landscape, breathe deeply or walk barefoot on the grass are simple but effective practices to slow down the inner rhythm.
In an era in which everything pushes towards speed and performance, returning to nature is a way to slow down, listen and recognize one’s most authentic needs. As Kate Middleton’s message suggests, nature remains a space in which to find stability, perspective and strength.
SPENDING AT Least 120 Minutes a Week in Nature Is Associated with Good Health and WellbeingNature Scientific Reports, 2019
Effects of Forest Environment (Shinrin-Yoku/Forest Bathing) On Health Promotion and Disease Prevention —The Establishment of “Forest Medicine”Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 2022
Nature Experience Reduces Rumination and Subgenual Prefrontal Cortex Activation, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2015
Green Space Exposure on depression and anxiety outcomes: a meta-analysisEnvironmental Research, 2023
Benefits of Nature Exposure on Cognitive Functioning in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-AalysisJournal of Environmental Psychology, 2024
Assessment of Exposure to Indoor Air PollutsMondale of Health Organization
Source: Vanity Fair
I’m Susan Karen, a professional writer and editor at World Stock Market. I specialize in Entertainment news, writing stories that keep readers informed on all the latest developments in the industry. With over five years of experience in creating engaging content and copywriting for various media outlets, I have grown to become an invaluable asset to any team.
