Five minutes in the green can boost self esteem

(Reuters) – Just five minutes of exercise a day in the great outdoors can improve mental health, according to a study released on Saturday, and policymakers should encourage more people to spend time in parks and gardens.

Researchers from the University of Essex found that as little as five minutes of a “green activity” such as walking, gardening, cycling or farming can boost mood and self esteem.

“We believe that there would be a large potential benefit to individuals, society and to the costs of the health service if all groups of people were to self-medicate more with green exercise,” Barton said in a statement about the study, which was published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

Many studies have shown that outdoor exercise can reduce the risk of mental illness and improve a sense of well-being, but Jules Pretty and Jo Barton, who led this study, said that until now no one knew how much time needed to be spent on green exercise for the benefits to show.

Barton and Pretty looked at data from 1,252 people of different ages, genders and mental health status taken from 10 existing studies in Britain.

They analyzed activities such as walking, gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, horse-riding and farming.

They found that the greatest health changes occurred in the young and the mentally ill, although people of all ages and social groups benefited. The largest positive effect on self-esteem came from a five-minute dose of “green exercise.”

All natural environments were beneficial, including parks in towns or cities, they said, but green areas with water appeared to have a more positive effect.

Reference Link
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6401Y620100502

Courtesy
Thomson Reuters

Cycling to create awareness on climate change

NEW DELHI, India: The Delhi Cycling Club organised a 11-km-long cycle rally dubbed “Climate Bicycle Ride” between Ambedkar Nagar and Moolchand on Sunday to raise awareness about climate change and to promote cycling as healthy and eco-friendly way of commuting between short distances.

The climate ride saw the participation of a large number of environment and health conscious people from different walks of life from Delhi and neighbourhood. Many IT professionals, engineers, architects, scientists, students, researchers, academicians, media, environmentalists and chartered accountants took part in the event.

Voluntary pledge

A large pledge board was also installed at the venue to encourage participants and the public to sign a voluntary pledge to reduce carbon footprint in daily life.

Delhi Government’s Additional Commissioner (Transport) K. Lalnghinglova flagged off the ride. The ride started from Ambedkar Nagar bus terminal and passed through Pushp Vihar, Chirag Delhi, Moolchand on the BRT corridor and culminate at Ambedkar Nagar T-point.

The event was open to all and extra cycles were arranged free of cost for participants who didn’t own a bicycle or found it difficult to bring them to the venue. Participants who were cycling in real traffic for the first time or after a long gap, were given useful cycling and road safety tips by volunteers before the ride.

Sensitising people

The Delhi Cycling Club has been trying through its event to disseminate information and sensitise people on the need to reduce energy consumption, dependence on petrol and diesel, and use more of cycling, walking and public transport and less of private motor vehicles to tackle climate change.

This is the third climate ride event organised by the Delhi Cycling Club, a non-profit group of over 850 members from Delhi and the National Capital Region consisting of bicycle enthusiasts, professionals who cycle to work frequently and people who are concerned about issues like environment, climate change, health and fitness and liveability of our cities. The first two similar events were held in June and December last year.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/22/stories/2010032253040400.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu