Now, this is a great effort!
An experimental study by the Natural Resources Institute Finland shows that the immune system of daycare children improved when forest undergrowth and plants were added to the yards of daycare centers.
Another study has proven that repeated contact with nature-like elements five times a week diversified microbes in the organ system. This is important as a less diverse set of microbes in our body increases the risk of disorders in our immune system. Research scientist Aki Sinkkonen investigated whether adding flora to urban environments would improve kids’ immune systems. Sinkkonen was joined by virology professor Heikki Hyöty, and urban planning professor Juho Rajaniemi.
After one month of repeated contact with nature, the children in the study had increased microbial diversity. In addition, there was also an increase in gammaproteobacteria, which strengthened the skin’s immune defense.
Image credit: Roslund et.al / University of Helsinki
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