SUSTAINABLEYOU SUSTAINABLE One thing you can do...
GO CRAZY WITH HOUSEPLANTS BY KAREN LANGSTON
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o you find when you take time to be in nature you just feel better? The more stressed we are in our daily lives, the more we need to reconnect with Mother Nature. Did you know plants have numerous health benefits? But what if you can’t find the time to bathe in a forest or walk among the trees, especially during times like summer, when the temperature soars? Bring Mother Nature inside. Houseplants are becoming quite trendy. Look at any home decorating magazine and you will see photos graced with houseplants of varying sizes. Your local nursery, grocery, and home hardware stores are full of plants perfect for the home. Did you know plants can help reduce stress? Stress hormones deactivate the ability of our immune system to protect us and
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greenliving | April 2020
keep us healthy. Look at the epic proportions of people suffering with depression, anxiety, low energy, and other wellness challenges. I wonder if they are lacking plants in their home. Indoor plants have a calming influence. Seeing greenery and nature helps people feel more relaxed and calmer, which in turn benefits our everyday mood. According to Peter Bongiorno, author of Holistic Solutions for Anxiety & Depression in Therapy: Combining Natural Remedies with Conventional Care, touching soft and smooth plants may also make you feel calmer. Caring for plants can help increase compassion and, improve relationships, which in turn, creates the greater likelihood of caring for others. Flowers also have an immediate impact on happiness, and improve memory.
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