The MIT Press Reader: “…During the past 15 years, a growing body of research has linked our connection to nature to reductions in vitamin D deficiency, myopia, obesity, diastolic blood pressure, stress-related salivary cortisol, heart rate, diabetes, and mood disorders. Studies have found that for young adults, the more nature they experience, the more life satisfaction they feel daily. In short, time in nature heals. Nature exposure in childhood or adolescence might also protect against cognitive decline and mental health issues later in life. Access to nature can literally be a matter of life and death. In 2017, a study published in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet Planetary Health suggested that people who live in green neighborhoods live longer than those with little nature nearby. And in 2018, UK researchers reviewed studies involving more than 290 million people of all ages from 20 countries. Their analysis confirmed what other researchers had been reporting. They also found that green space exposure reduces the risk of preterm birth, premature death, and high blood pressure — all of which disproportionately affect people of color…”