The glow is real!
I always feel so good after a hike, bike, even a simple walk in the forest. I return home a new person, relieved and restored. Even glowing! Immersing in the forest not only has a great effect on your wellbeing, it also contributes to having a youthful healthy radiant appearance. And there is a name for this scientifically proven natural therapy—forest bathing.
While many cultures have long recognized the health benefits of spending time in nature, it was the Japanese who first gave a name to the experience of mindfully communing with nature. The term shinrin-yoku (“forest bathing” or “taking in the forest atmosphere”) emerged in Japan in the 1980s to refer to a physiological and psychological ecotherapy that offers an antidote to tech-boom burnout while inspiring people to reconnect with and protect forests. The idea of forest bathing is to be free from distractions and not have a set agenda other than enjoying, soaking up, and experiencing nature as you spend time walking through a forest environment. It is simply about being present in the moment, and fully immersing yourself in the experience.
But how do you get the glow?
Here are a few factors that contribute to that fabulous glow you get from forest bathing:
1. Trees Release Nutrient-Rich Skin Moisturizers
Trees release into the air bioactive plant substances called phytoncides. Many experts boast phytoncide exposure as one the main benefits of forest bathing. Phytoncides are antimicrobial, allelochemic, and insecticidal volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or “essential oils”. These natural chemicals are meant to protect the trees from germs and parasites. Trees emit these active substances to create a field of protection around itself against harmful bugs, bacteria, and disease. When we absorb phytoncides through breathing and through our skin, we get from them fabulous detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and many other benefits. Evidence shows the chemicals support both physical and psychological wellbeing.
Other green plants, like vegetables, also have phytoncydes and their health properties. So eat your leafy greens and vegetables!
Other Health Benefits of Phytoncides Include
- Boost Immune System: phytoncides enhance our immune activity by helping our body produce more defense cells. A stronger immune system makes us healthier, less susceptible to illness. The increases of NK cell activity after a 2-hour walk in the forest can last for days.
- Anti-inflammatory: common forest terpenes temper inflammation and reduce oxidative stress.
- Benefits Nervous System: forest air creates a relaxation response and lowers nervous system activity.
- Mood enhancing: exposure to forest air reduces cortisol levels and β-pinene has antidepressive properties.
- Improve Sleep: phytoncides like α-pinene enhance sleep—another key factor for healthy skin.
2. Trees Provide Hydration
Trees hydrate the air through evapotranspiration. They release water into the atmosphere through their leaves. As the water changes state from liquid to vapor, the surrounding air becomes slightly steamy making the surrounding air cooler and our skin supple. Same effect steam rooms have on the skin.
3. Trees Filter The Air
Trees are natural air filters. They filter gasses that are harmful to humans as well as to the earth's ecosystems as a whole. Carbon dioxide is one of the most harmful greenhouse gasses, and filtering carbon dioxide out of the air is what trees do best. Trees also capture particulate matter such as dust, ash, pollen and smoke on their leaves, keeping it out of our lungs. When you are deep in a healthy forest, the air is clearer which means is cleaner, and the body absorbs more oxygen with every breath and less fine dust is deposited on the skin. You can see and feel this after forest bathing.
4. Forests Contemplation Relaxes Brain & Body
Simply looking at forests induce physiological and psychological relaxation. By minimizing your body's inflammatory response to stress, forest bathing improves the quality of your skin barrier, smooth and plump the skin, and if experienced regularly, can reduce things like rosacea and acne.
5. Forests Provide Ideal Combo For Healthy Sunlight Intake
Natural sunlight is crucial to our overall health, including skin health. Hence the term "healthy glow." Lack of it is linked to a multitude of health issues, even to a shorter life expectancy. But over-exposure to the sun damaging rays can also be detrimental. The good news is that forests provide an ideal environment for healthy sunlight intake. The shade that trees provide help avoid the intense direct rays. Tree canopies can intercept 90% or more of the sunlight—and the heat that comes with it. While the hydration of evapotranspiration and the moisture of phytoncide help our skin take in the beneficial aspects of sunlight without the early fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, cancers caused by exposure to drying heat and overexposure to harmful rays.
6. The Microbiome Role
Simply strolling through an organic landscape can jumpstart the human health benefits associated with soil microbes. Fascinating new research suggests that soil microbes and human gut microbes are strongly related and also likely evolved alongside each other over many thousands of years. It is thought that soil microbes even have the ability to communicate with our cells! M. vaccae, a beneficial soil bacteria, has been linked to the growth of neurons in the brains of mice and increased levels of serotonin, decreased anxiety, and faster learning.
In the past, humans had more direct contact with the soil. We farmed our own food by hand, ate organic food, and as children we played outside daily—therefore connecting with soil microbes daily. Today, we have to make conscious efforts to reconnect with our microbial evolutionary partners. Fortunately, the benefits are quick and easy, the American Society for Microbiology reports that “people likely ingest [M. vaccae] or breath in when they spend time in nature.”
"The gut and skin enjoy a constant dialogue via what has become known as the gut-skin axis," says gut health expert Carla Oates. She explains that while symptoms of gut health issues can be incredibly varied, the skin is often a great barometer for what’s going on inside the gut. "While it might not sound very glamorous, the gut is where 70 percent of our immune system lies," she explains. "It’s where we make nutrients, metabolize hormones and detoxifying enzymes, neutralize pathogens and make neurotransmitters—so it’s super important to get your digestive health in check in order to feel well and of course, experience clear, glowing skin."
7. Motion & Blood Circulation
Exercise, especially in fresh air, gets the blood circulation going. That's how we get those fresh apple cheeks after even a nice walk. Exercise also gets the lymphatic system going to remove toxins better and distribute nutrients more effectively in the cells.
8. Happiness!
Forest bathing makes you happy! It has been proven to lift our mood, reduce anxiety and boost creativity. And when we are happy, we have that very special glow. You can literally read it off our face!
So now that you know all the amazing benefits of forest bathing for your skin, go out and get your glow on! Happy trails!
