green living


AREAS OF EXPERTISE: • Functional Medicine • Integrative Medicine • Naturopathic Medicine


WE OFFER: • Intravenous Therapies • Ozone Therapy • Hormone Replacement • Cancer Co-Management • Detoxification


• Lyme and Chronic Infections


• Gut Healing Protocols • Healthy Aging • Weight Loss


S


Kirti Kalidas MD, ND


Amar Kalidas DO


Sara King DNP, ARNP, FNP-BC


407-355-9246 6651 Vineland Rd., Ste 150 Orlando, FL 32819


drkalidas.com 24 Central Florida www.NACFL.com


pending time outdoors is a valuable pastime for individuals in their golden years. Besides being exceedingly


pleasurable, communing with nature, breathing fresh air, feeling the warmth of the sun or hearing birdsong can markedly improve a person’s physical, mental and emotional well-being. For seniors, exposure to green and blue spaces inspires a more active lifestyle that is both spiritually and socially engaged, thereby offsetting the challenges of chronic illness, disability and isolation. Whether playing Scrabble under the shade of a tree, strolling along the banks of a lake with friends or planting flowers and herbs in a raised garden bed, adding that outdoor element to any activity is a win-win.


Physical Rewards A vigorous workout outside is not necessary to derive benefits. Fresh air boosts the immune system by increasing white blood cell production. Merely living near trees can extend a person’s lifespan by up to 12 years, according to a Harvard University


study of more than 100,000 women over an eight-year period. Another study of 350,000 people in Holland found that green spaces can improve overall health, reduce health complaints, lower the propensity for psychiatric illness and engender a general feeling of improved health. “Exposure to natural light fosters the


synthesis of vitamin D, which is crucial for bone health and mood regulation,” says Dr. Ryan Sultán, an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University. “Participating in outdoor activities such as walking, gardening or simply enjoying nature contributes to improved physical fitness.” Gardening improves physical strength,


flexibility and overall health and quality of life. Older adults that regularly take walks report less pain and sleep problems compared to adults that don’t get outside every day. Nature also promotes healthier blood pressure, higher energy levels, lower heart rate, reduced stress, less chronic pain and a reduction of illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and respiratory issues.


Growing Young in Nature


How Seniors Heal in the Great Outdoors by Kelcie Ottoes


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