THE ESSENTIAL
- Short walks in blue spaces can benefit well-being and mood.
- The researchers did not observe a positive effect of blue spaces on any of the cardiovascular outcomes assessed in this study.
We often hear regarding the benefits of green spaces on health, but little information exists on the virtues of “blue spaces”, namely aquatic spaces (canal, lake, sea, river, stream, etc.). However, these places where water is present “may benefit mental health, although evidence is still sparse”, said a team of Spanish, Australian, Dutch and British scientists. In order to determine the psychological reactions of exposure to blue spaces, they carried out a study published in the journal Environmental Research.
Go for a walk for 20 minutes a day
For the purposes of the work, they recruited 59 healthy adult office workers. Participants had to devote 20 minutes a day to outings for three weeks. During the first week, the volunteers walked along a beach located in Barcelona. Seven days later they walked the streets of the city and the last week they stayed in their premises. The authors measured their blood pressure and heart rate before, during and following exposure. Employees also had to complete a questionnaire to assess their well-being and mood.
Walks in “blue spaces” make us in a better mood
“We found a significant improvement in participants’ well-being and mood immediately following walking near a blue space compared to walking around the city or resting in the premises,” can we read in the searches. According to the results, the cardiovascular responses showed increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system, both during and following the ride in the blue spaces.
“According to the UN, 55% of the world’s population now lives in cities. It is crucial to identify and highlight the elements that improve our health, such as blue spaces, in order to create more healthier and more sustainable”, said Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, study coordinator.
