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Join today<\/a><\/p>\n \n Already a member? Spending time in nature<\/a> could influence dietary habits, a groundbreaking study has suggested.<\/p>\n According to researchers, the association may be driven by green environments assisting people in fostering more positive relationships with their bodies.<\/p>\n Led by Anglia Ruskin University<\/a> (ARU), the research surveyed 500 participants regarding how they interact with nature in their daily routines.<\/p>\n Respondents also completed questionnaires designed to assess body image, self-compassion, and their personal sense of connection to the natural world.<\/p>\n Viren Swami, professor of social psychology at Anglia Ruskin University, said: \u201cThese findings are important because they provide the first evidence that contact with nature may shape people\u2019s eating habits.<\/p>\n \u201cWe already know that contact with natural environments can reduce anxiety<\/a> and depression<\/a> and improve various measures of wellbeing<\/a>, including life satisfaction.\u201d<\/p>\n Part of the research focused on “intuitive eating”, an approach where individuals respond to their body\u2019s natural signals instead of adhering to strict dietary rules.<\/p>\n The study, published in the journal Body Image, concluded that the direct link between nature exposure and intuitive eating was not statistically significant.<\/p>\n However, the findings suggest nature was \u201cindirectly associated\u201d with intuitive eating through a number of pathways, including higher levels of body appreciation and self-compassion.<\/p>\n Researchers said the results \u201cprovide the first evidence of pathways linking nature contact and a trait-based approach to eating that has been linked to a wide range of psychological and physical benefits\u201d.<\/p>\n Prof Swami added: \u201cOur new study is the first to show how it can influence our eating habits, thanks to helping people develop more positive relationships with their bodies and greater self-compassion, and these findings could have practical benefits for public health professionals.<\/p>\n \u201cWe recognise there are limitations to this study, particularly as it is based on self-reported data, and further studies in other countries are needed.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, these initial results suggest that greater access to and engagement with nature could support efforts to promote healthier, more sustainable eating behaviours.\u201d<\/p>\n Experts say eating more nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables<\/a> known as \u201csuperfoods\u201d<\/a> can help boost both mental and physical health<\/a>.<\/p>\n Many of these foods have qualities that benefit the brain, such as mood-regulating omega-3 fatty acids<\/a> and essential vitamins and minerals like magnesium and vitamin D<\/a>.<\/p>\n And they can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner.<\/p>\n
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Part of the research focused on intuitive eating\u2019, an approach where individuals respond to their body\u2019s natural signals instead of adhering to strict dietary rules (Alamy\/PA)<\/p>\n