This Japanese Secret to Improving Your Health and Mood Is Incredibly Easy--and the Next Big Thing

Want to feel better, improve your mood, boost your brain function, and lessen the chances of contracting a disease, including cancer? The Japanese have discovered and incredibly simple and enjoyable way to do all these things: Take a stroll in the woods. That's a stroll--not a hike, not a rock climb and not even a guided educational nature walk. To get the full benefits, you have to give up the American tendency to be goal-oriented and just be in in the middle of nature, letting it fill up your senses.

For the Japanese, of course, communing with nature is a major element of their culture and belief system--think Cherry Blossom Festival. So it's not surprising that they've devoted the time and funding to thoroughly study the effects of nature on the human system, resulting in their practice of shinrin-yoku, which translates roughly as "forest bathing."

First popularized in Japan in 1982, forest bathing is now a widespread pastime in Japan and is growing in popularity here too. Some American certified forest therapy guides (yup, that's a thing) believe shinrin-yoku is poised to become as big an element of American wellness as yoga and meditation are--two other Eastern practices scientifically proven to promote brain function and health.

The concept that forest bathing can have health benefits may have you rolling your eyes but it's perfectly believable to me. I spent most of the last 20 years living in rural upstate New York--I didn't have to go to the forest; it was right outside my door. I did occasionally have to go to New York City, which is where I grew up and a place I've always loved. I was always happy to go but there was that incredible moment when I stepped off the train home and took my first breath of tree-infused air. My whole body would react with what felt like relief and joy.

If that's too unscientific for you, consider these facts:

1. Spending time in nature has been proved to improve brain function.

The most dramatic effects, one researcher says, occur on your third day in an natural environment, but shorter nature visits work too. If you've ever had the common experience of finding the answer to a difficult problem while walking in the woods or a park, that's why.

2. Walking in nature has been shown to improve mood.

There's a thing called "rumination," which is the scientific term for the human inability to stop thinking about something that's upsetting or stressing us. Rumination is measurable in a part of the brain called the subgenual prefrontal cortex. Interestingly, a 2015 experiment showed that urban dwellers who walk in nature experience a decrease in rumination, whereas a similar group of urban dwellers who go for a similar walk in an urban environment see no such decrease.

3. Being in nature measurably reduces stress.

As you likely know, stress can kill you in oh-so-many ways, including affecting your brain, heart disease, digestive disease, and lowering your immune function. If you've ever taken a walk in a forest, garden, or park, you've probably noticed the stress-busting effects of being in nature. Scientists have noticed them as well. A 2010 studyin Japan showed that forest bathing reduced heart rate, blood pressure, and the stress hormone cortisol. Other studies in the U.S. and Finland came up with similar results.

4. Forest bathing boosts your anti-cancer cells.

If none of this convinces you that walking in the forest is a good idea, consider this: Japanese researchers found that forest bathing boosts subjects' immune systems, including their "natural killer" cells. Natural killer cells are the ones that strike out diseases before they take hold and kill cancer cells before tumors can form. Of all the cells in your body, you particularly want these to be plentiful and healthy. Japanese subjects who went on a three-day forest excursion saw their natural killer cell activity increase by an impressive 50 percent.

In fact, this boost in natural killer activity is how nature trails are judged in Japan. The Japanese perform blood tests on subjects who walk the trails, and only those that produce a significant killer cell increase are certified as official shinrin-yoku places. In fact, the Japanese take forest bathing so seriously that it is covered by health insurance, according to one U.S. practitioner.

Makes sense to me.

5 Unhealthy Mistakes That Make You Age Faster

You may not be a smoker, and you may keep your drinking to a minimum, but that doesn’t quite mean you don’t have any unsavory habits that can negatively affect your health. The truth is, you could be making tons of mistakes that are aging you significantly. Before you reach for the anti-wrinkle cream and skin-firming solutions, you should take a look at the way you’re living today, and how your current actions could be making you look a lot older than you really are. Check to see if you partake in any of these five habits, for you could be aging yourself a lot faster than you think.

1. You aren’t sleeping enough

You’ve heard it a thousand times before — not getting enough sleep is the worst thing in the world for your health, and it can even contribute to diseases later on. You may think you’re fine on the five hours of sleep you got last night, but sleeping too little can do serious damage to your skin, which can make you look way older than you are. According to skin care specialist Annmarie Gianni’s blog, studies have shown those who don’t get quality sleep each night had increased signs of skin aging, including fine lines, uneven pigmentation, and reduced elasticity. For those with acne, getting enough rest is particularly important to preserve a youthful look, as the skin heals when you’re asleep. Start getting at least seven to eight hours per night to ensure youthful skin.

2. You’re eating too much sugar

Sugary drinks and store-bought cookies aren’t just bad for your waistline, they’ll wreak havoc on your looks. Consuming too much processed, sugary food can make your skin look dull. According to research published in 2013, people with the highest blood sugar levels look older. The study involved more than 600 men and women who had no knowledge of their blood sugar levels. A board was asked to guess the age of participants without knowing anything about them, and those who had the highest blood sugar levels were thought to be older.

And consider you may even feel older from the way refined sugars can sap your energy. If you want something sweet, do yourself a favor and reach for the apple instead of the cookie jar.

3. You’re always stressed

If you’re constantly thinking about the groceries you need to buy, the clothes you need to wash, and the deadlines at work you need to hit, then it’s time to take a deep breath and relax. Not only can chronic stress ruin your sleep patterns and increase your risk for heart disease, but it can also make you look 10 years older than you actually are. Stress chemicals are released into your body when you’re always anxious, which slowly results in a more aged appearance, says The Huffington Post.

If your job is what’s stressing you out, then you’ll want to practice some meditation and mini desk workouts to lighten your mood. The same story mentions a 2012 study published to the journal PLOS ONE shows your DNA may actually be affected by the exhaustion and frustrations you experience at work. Those who worked more stressful jobs were more affected, the story explains, which can actually increase the risks for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s, and cancer.

4. You’re always crash dieting

If you’re always jumping from diet to diet in the hopes of getting your body to where you want it to be, then it’s best to stop while you’re ahead. Making healthy food choices and exercise are great for wellness, but jumping aboard a crash diet is almost always going to set you up for failure.

These diets can also age you dramatically. According to the Miami Herald, fad eating plans often rob us of essential fats, which our skin needs to help retain moisture. Cutting out food groups is a bad choice, too, because you may not get enough of the antioxidants that protect skin from the sun and other types of damage.

5. You wash your hands and face too much

We all want to have perfect skin and clean hands, but all of that washing can do serious damage to your skin and quickly age you. When it comes to your face, use a gentle cleanser without added fragrance, and this goes for tall skin types. While those prone to acne are likely to reach for the products that have benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to keep their skin issues at bay, these ingredients strip the skin and cause severe dryness and irritation that can lead to wrinkles and a dull, aged look. And don’t forget to moisturize, either.

While you may be more concerned with your face than your hands, your hands show signs of aging, too. Daily Express explains washing your hands over and over again during the day dehydrates them, leading to wrinkly, aged skin. If you find your hands are dry and cracked from all of the washing, try massaging them with cream, then slipping on some gloves. The natural heat of your hands and the barrier from the gloves will allow the cream to penetrate deep into the skin, giving you ultra soft skin.