Health Benefits of Urban Trees

Can city dwellers get the health benefits of aerosols in tree air? The answer is yes. Lead researcher Marc Berman looked at tree canopies in Toronto, Canada.

Trees decrease disease, increase our life expectancy, and up our net worth.

Specifically, eleven  (11) more average sized trees per city block resulted in decreased disease conditions:

  • equal to a $20,200 increase in income.
  •  equal to being 1.4 years younger.

People on tree-lined streets are healthier, will live longer, and feel richer. The researchers were able to control for income, age, and education so the results were not influenced by these variables. The (2015) study published in the journal Nature, Scientific Reports, is “Neighborhood Greenspace and Health in a Large Urban Center.”

The Toronto research team analyzed 530,000 trees. They studied the trees by location, species, and diameter along the streets in Toronto. They then combined that with satellite images of trees in people’s backyards. Then they compared the number of trees to the health of people on each block.

These are trees in the places people live, work, and shop.
These are trees that are also viewed through windows.

Researchers analyzed the health records of over 30,000 Toronto residents. The records included self-reported health. This self-assessment of health shows strong ties actual health status.

Specifically, eleven  (11) more average sized trees per city block resulted in decreased disease for:
• high blood pressure,
• high blood glucose,
• obesity,
• high cholesterol,
• heart disease,
• stroke,
• diabetes,
• migraines,
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
• liver cirrhosis,
• ulcerative colitis,
• irritable bowel disease (IBD),
• arthritis,
• asthma,
• cancer,
• addiction,
• depression,
• anxiety.

No need to worry about family and friends living in cities.   As long as they live close to trees, and go outside.

In her wonderful new book, “The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, And More Creative”, author Florence Williams notes that on average we spend 93% of our time inside. Working, driving,  on our phones and computers, cooking, cleaning, looking after loved ones, and our homes takes up almost all of our days.  Florence Williams, talks about self understanding of this point by  my author Annie Dillard:

“how we spend our days, is how we spend our lives.’

It is almost as if we have forgotten how good it feels to be out there. In  her book, Williams finds a set of studies done at Trent University on 150 university students.

Psychologist, Elizabeth Nisbett  gave the students the option to walk to class underground or outside along the canal. The students consistently overestimated how much  they would enjoy the tunnels and under estimated how good they would feel outside.  

It seems like we have to find the habit of liking and loving to go outdoors all over again. It’s as if we have responsibilities and going outside is somehow shirking these.

Or as in the case with lupus, we are told to stay inside, and avoid the sun. For me this was a deep loss an  a recipe for grief. What we all need is to have the equipment to cover all our photosensitive bases. We all need to feel safe when we are outdoors. My next post will be my recommended things to keep us safe when we are outside close to trees.

Until then, drink in the wild free tree air.   It’s Treesmendus!  Verla

24 comments on “Health Benefits of Urban Trees

  1. I love being outside with nature, but never considered how much it could benefit our physical health. Thanks for sharing this great info!

  2. We left the “city” life to live in the suburbs. I missed hearing the birds chirping. In the city you get so used to the cars going by that at first it was hard to fall asleep it was so quiet, but now I love it!

  3. I so like this! We live in the suburbs, yet one of my gripes is that developers raze entire forests to put up new developments. Surely they can keep a good amount of trees and design a more beautiful and healthy neighborhood. Adding trees is such a happy thing!

  4. I love where I live in Northern California because we have a lot of trees and green belts to walk through, and there is something so relaxing about it. When I lived in a bigger city it was difficult to find areas like this.

  5. I’m blessed to live in the country surrounded by nature. We built our home in an open field so we only have 5 trees in our actual yard. They are only 13 years old but they are growing!

  6. My plan is to move onto some family land we have in a couple of years. It forest. There is nothing there but trees.

  7. Interesting how nature really does sooth the soul. I love getting out of the city and away from the hustle and bustle. Nice Post with some great info. Thanks!

  8. Thank you Verla for blazing the trail to better health. I appreciate your interesting science based approach to this subject. Promoting an awareness of the hidden treasures that trees and the outdoors provide for our daily quality of life is so vitally important in these times. I will continue to share your enthusiasm and look forward to the articles to come.

    • Thank you very much Gena. You are my first follower who is not a family member or friend! I signed up to your blog Healingmyrootcause. Going to follow with interest.

  9. Makes me want to get out of the office on these beautiful days and go walk in all the beautiful trails we have here I probably have only been a few times with my son who is a Forester I think he knows every tree out there . I have to get Ed to make me a Walking Stick and I need a Air Horn too. Verla you have done a great job a lot of research have been put into your blogs.

    • Thank you Karen for your generous comments. The forest and the trees are in your blood. Your son is a forester! And I just saw your amazing place in the forest on the lake. You know what you are doing lol.

      For the bush I love the walking poles with a little spike on the end. I think if a wild dog comes near I have protection. Also the spike dig into the ground and gives me more lift. The two poles work together to give me the added support I need to move along at a good clip.

      The air horn is a free fill up with air from your bicycle pump. I have not seen a bear or a wolf out on my walks on my own but I am prepared. Also it is accidentally going off in my home when I step on my little hiking back pack haha.

      Thank you for the support Karen. It will keep me going for a long time!

  10. Verla I have a favourite tree in the woods where we go hiking , I will try to send you a pic.
    It’s very old and mystical!

    • Lovely on the hiking Barb. Thank you so much for your comment. I am looking forward to seeing the tree.

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