5 Ways to Boost Your Health by Going Outside
Two doctors provide the best excuses yet for going outdoors.
Cristina Tudino
Photo: Chris Bennett/Getty Images
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Notice the Scenery
Just looking at a natural scene activates parts of the brain associated with balance and happiness. In a study at South Korea's Chonnam National University, fMRI scans showed that when subjects saw images of mountains, forests, and other landscapes, they experienced heightened activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus (which is linked to positive outlook and emotional stability) and the basal ganglia (an area that's been tied to the recollection of happy memories).
From the
June 2012 issue of
O, The Oprah Magazine
