Bringing the outdoors in can improve your health

ARTICLE

25 August 2022

4 mins read

Indoor plants aren’t just easy on the eye, they can interact with your mind, body and home in ways that enhance your quality of life.

You only need to search #plantgang or #houseplantclub on Instagram to get an eyeful of gloriously green living spaces, kitted-out by green-thumbed fanatics with everything from succulents to lush ferns and tropical shrubs. 

Turning your home into a peacefully green retreat from the outside world makes perfect sense right now. We’re living in a time full of stressors and interior decorating can be expensive. Indoor plants look great, and they can often be bought on a budget. But dig beneath the surface and you’ll find that the benefits of greening your interior go far beyond what meets the eye: research is proving there are real benefits to be had for your mental and physical wellbeing too. 

Here are two key ways adding some green to your life can be good for you, too.

Improve air quality

While our connection to nature is deep-rooted, modern living has seen us spending less and less time in it. It’s widely recognised that we’re spending up to 90 per cent of their time indoors¹, meaning more regular exposure to airborne pollutants commonly found in our homes and offices.

The good news is that by bringing certain types of plants into your space, you’re employing a natural air purifier, and in some cases even increasing your oxygen levels. And there’s science to back it up, too. 

A 2019 study² found that common household plants like Devil’s Ivy and the Spider plant were effective at removing benzene, a form of carcinogenic gas that can cause leukaemia with long-term exposure³.

Another 2022 study discovered that household plants also had the ability to remove nitrogen dioxide – a common pollutant – from the air⁴

Top air-purifying plants

Before rushing off and buying every potted plant in sight, make sure you do a little online research first. Not all plants like the same light and warmth conditions, so make sure you know how to best look after your new leafy green friends.

Here’s a list of top air-purifying plants for your consideration:

Spider plant 
Devil’s Ivy 
Weeping Fig 
Peace Lily 
Snake Plant/Mother-In-Law’s Tongue

They improve your wellbeing

Most of us know instinctively that being close to greenery makes us feel instantly more at ease with our surroundings. And research shows that filling your space with green friends actually can help improve your mood, concentration, productivity and feelings of positivity. 

The Japanese practise of Shinrin-Yoku⁵ (nature therapy) has proven that the simple act of surrounding yourself by nature can be beneficial for health by lowering blood pressure and boosting mental health through lowered cortisol levels. But bringing some green into your living space has also proven to have its benefits to wellbeing, including reductions of tension, anxiety and symptoms of depression⁶. What’s not to love?

Footnotes

¹ https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/air-quality/indoor-air

² https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/10/4/221/htm
³ https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/benzene/basics/facts.asp#:~:text=Indoor%20air%20generally%20contains%20levels,benzene%20than%20in%20other%20areas
⁴ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11869-022-01171-6
⁵ https://environhealthprevmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12199-019-0822-8
⁶ https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/more-than-just-decoration-the-many-health-benefits-of-house-plants-20200708-p55a97.html#:~:text=A%20University%20of%20Technology%2C%20Sydney,reduction%20in%20anger%20and%20hostility

Staff Writer

Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday Australians live healthier lives. This is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances

Disclaimer:
This is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a financial adviser, or medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.

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