If Nature Is Good For The Heart, What Are We Doing About It?

Shifting our focus to Nature is not only good for the heart, in the poetry of it, because it is a moment of pause, a redirection, a general feel-good option, even a glimpse of awakening, but also science-backed approved for better cardiovascular health. Overall, living in sync with Nature is a healthy lifestyle choice, we know that, but what are we doing about it? What can we do about it today? And why wouldn't we when it is legit the key to our well-being?

I took a heart that knew not how to be, beyond the tissue, pumped out of feeling, blocked of its flow, I could not hear its beating, filled the perceived hollow with the shallow, never satiated thus, in mindless seeking aligning with hallowed insecurities, a hole not whole, and my heart took the beating, battered in commotion of a world high on heartlessness, and bruised in communion with birds of feather twinning -

till I was too lost to feel, and lost myself amid…

So I tossed my heart into nature’s void and sunk into oblivion –

But Nature caught it gently in its deft arms of love and cradled it into peace, in its consistent brimming of soulful homecoming, my heart found its awakening, and waking up to its truth–

My heart bloomed with the flowers of spring, colours that come to life and rave in a summer high, soak in the cleanse of rain and withstand stormy weather, an Autumnal basking reminiscence, resting in winter’s hibernation but rising with the roses too, every season is being, like phases that make rivers too, my heart, a handiwork of the same nature –

I find it in birdsong cacophony, the Drongo is a circus performer, a royal Kingfisher blue perched in pairs, twin flashes of yellow, the Orioles are around, the dove’s meditative cooing is a balm for afternoons of thought, and Robins caress the soul in their symphony,

or how the shark swashes in synergy and bamboos sway wildly, trees caught in a frenzy, hips don’t lie in the wind, but glide on gray skies, touching base on shoulders of mine, a Brahminy Kite, a Hawk missing inches deep, but the waves only kiss toes, enough in their endlessness of being, effortless like breath, echoed in wise mountains, divinity bellowing, like in the wild too where my heart roams freely, a One-Horned Rhinoceros stoic, an unfettered elephant herd, in doe-eyed connections of deer rendezvous, and eagles that stare, squirrel encounters and butterflies that fly too close, reflections of a wild heart within -

Like in the night of life, I hear my heart beating in darkness brimming, creatures of shadows, bats overhead, an insectile orchestra, the sky is a velvet diamond sanctuary, ruled in the cyclical light of glowing monarch of this very heart, and the Earth’s –

In the in-betweens, in transitional bridges where poetry awaits seekers heart-bound - the first light of pink dawn, the fading whispers of dusk, and in spaces where rivers meet seas and the sea meets the ocean, and summer dances to an autumnal embrace, bracing for winter’s end, a death cleanse making space for the spring of beginnings –

My heart is whole, alive and brimming,

till it is meant to be, as is supposed to be. 

The Science Behind Nature and Heart Health -

Choosing to shift our focus to Nature can be a practical and effective way to improving heart health - as it is a scientifically supported approach - from lowering blood pressure to boosting physical activity, the data speaks for itself -

Lowers Blood Pressure and Heart Rate: 

How many times have we found ourselves feeling relaxed after spending a few minutes outdoors? The heart rate lowers and our breathing is at a relaxed pace.

Consistent studies in the field support that spending time in natural environments can lead to reductions in blood pressure and heart rate. For instance, a study published in the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention found that people who spent time in green spaces experienced a significant drop in systolic blood pressure, a key indicator of cardiovascular risk.

Stress Relief:

Being in nature is a stress-free zone - even taking a few minutes a day to focus in Nature relives, cures, and calms a stressed heart. Just try and see.

High stress and chronic exposure to stress hormones like cortisol are linked to increased heart disease risks. Research from Japan’s “Shinrin-yoku” or forest bathing movement, documented in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, shows that spending time in forests significantly lowers cortisol levels and other stress indicators. This reduction in stress translates into better heart health as chronic stress is a known contributor to hypertension and coronary artery disease.

Better Energy Levels - Productivity:

Often, a walk in nature feels revitalizing. Poets, Creators, and Inventors in the past, have been known to take long, long walks in Nature, in the pre-internet era. When we are outdoors, we see, hear, smell, touch and feel things as nature is alive and brimming, a reminder that we are part of a much greater whole, our problems scaling down, and in that space giving us perspective and even answers to questions asked.

As per science, whether it's a casual walk through the park, a hike, or even gardening, these activities increase physical activity, a proven protector against heart disease. A review in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine concluded that people who live near green spaces tend to be more physically active and have lower rates of cardiovascular conditions like heart attacks and strokes.

Great for Mental Health:

Spending time in Nature is a moment of recalibration - nature is good for the mind, listening to birdsongs, a river rage, or the continual waves, has a meditative impact that calms a stressed mind, recalibrating thought from problem-focused to solution-oriented. It restores mental balance by giving the brain a break from overstimulation, according to Attention Restoration Theory (ART).

And Mental health is directly tied to cardiovascular health. A meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Psychology indicated that exposure to natural environments helps reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Better mental health can prevent heart complications, as poor mental states are often associated with unhealthy lifestyles and behaviors like addiction, a sedentary way of life, all bad for heart health.

Solving Sleeping Problems:

A hyperstimulated mind in our gadget-centric, constant exposure to screens, blue light, and information overload overstimulates the brain, disrupting proper sleep. And Nature is known to help counteract this - spending time in natural light during the day helps regulate circadian rhythms, improving sleep-wake cycles, listening to natural sounds (like rain or waves), can signal the body to relax, fostering healthier sleep.

A study from the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine suggests that individuals who spend more time outdoors are more likely to have healthy sleep patterns, which directly supports heart health by reducing inflammation and promoting recovery.

How Can We Live in sync with Nature Everyday?

It is rather a simple and fulfilling way of being based on choices we can make and is easier than imagined. The upside of living in sync with Nature, no matter our part of the Earth, as evidenced above, is the key to our well-being. Furthermore, we feel better, are in a better mood, better energy, all because nature is not something separate from us, we are nature, we exist because of nature, and it is rather coming home.

Here are a few general suggestions, based on personal experience and known benefits, that we can do today:

1. Walks in Nature -

Walking daily is another known science-backed means of overall better health and a fun way to stay in shape, and doing that walk in Nature just makes the heart so happy, literally.

Taking a 20-to 30-minute walk in a park, garden, or any natural environment not only improves cardiovascular health and clears the mind, but also expands our vision philosophically, our senses heightened we connect to an effortless brimming natural world wherein even little moments, even a blade of dewy grass, the way a flower unfolds, colours of the sky and feeling the breeze, hold purpose and is poetry.

2. Living With Nature-

Having indoor plants is truly a positive experience, and is the easiest thing to do, especially in urban spaces where the air may be polluted on certain seasons. Studies have shown that even indoor plants can lower stress and improve air quality, which is good for overall heart health.

Also, opening windows (if possible) at night or early morning to allow fresh air to circulate and letting in sounds of nature, like birdsongs etc—can contribute to better sleep quality, wherein proper sleep is essential for maintaining heart health.

If we can mindfully choose to focus on nature in our free time which holds the potential of being doomed by infinite scrolling, this can legit save so much unnecessary stress and drama, legit, and contribute productively, as is the known benefits already. Taking a "nature break" after long periods of screen time, is a great thing to do.

3. Forest Bathing -

Forest Bathing is this Japanese practice that involves simply being in nature—no need for strenuous activity. Just focus on the breath, breathing deeply, walking slowly, and being mindful of our surroundings. This is proven to lower stress and blood pressure, which directly impacts heart health. Keeping distractions like the phone at bay, and paying attention to sights, smells, and sounds in nature is a soul-enriching feeling.

4. Outdoor Meditation and Yoga –

Both meditation and yoga are known ways of healthy living and a soothing of many maladies, and is good for heart health. If you have the space to do both or either outdoors, it’s like mindfulness 2.0.

Meditating with the sea’s continual waves, or with a gushing mountain river flow, or simply with the rain, just listening to the rain fall and focusing on that, or quietly listening to birdsongs and the sounds of nature while on a walk outdoors or hiking, for starters.

We can replace a workout with an outdoor activity like brisk walking, jogging, cycling, or hiking. Exercising in natural environments provides the physical benefits of movement and mental relaxation.

5. Nature Writing -

Birdwatching and or journaling while sitting outside may seem like simple, low-effort activities but I have found poetry, perspective and purpose, in these very moments, in watching nature being, lie inspiration, meaning, and is the cornerstone of “being an earthling” – it’s a moment of letting it be and in doing so, aligning with the flow of life. This deeper connection with the natural world, also lowers stress levels and is great for mental well-being.

Whether you are already living in sync Nature and know of its benefits, found connection and poetry in being, have experiences to share, or have begun to, in seeking a fulfilled existence, or you want to start and seek community, or need more clarity, join me in my journey of bringing focus back to Nature and being an earthling.