AVOID Hospital Stays with this NATURE Hack?!

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted January 14, 2023

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

If you’re like most folks, you will do just about ANYTHING to avoid a trip to the hospital.

But if you’re battling a neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, that’s easier said than done.

Each year nearly a third of Americans living with Parkinson’s will end up in the hospital. And when you have Alzheimer’s, or related dementia, hospitalization is often a matter of when not if.

And the rest of us aren’t off the hook, either. Because as we age, our odds of a hospital stay also rise.

But what if I told you that you could stack the odds in your favor for staying OUT of the hospital?

New research has revealed an “almost too strange to be true” hack that can do EXACTLY that.

Researchers recently crunched hospitalization data from millions of Medicare patients living with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and related dementias. They compared it to where they lived using satellite data.

The team uncovered something INCREDIBLE about people living with these neurodegenerative diseases.

If a Parkinson’s patient happened to live near a greenway, forest, or park (green spaces) OR a lake, ocean, or other waterways (blue spaces), they were significantly less likely to end up in the hospital.

And folks with Alzheimer’s or other dementias who lived near green spaces had far fewer hospitalizations.

This study focused on folks living with these specific conditions. But there’s no reason to believe they’re the only ones who would experience these kinds of health benefits.

In fact, other studies have already shown a reduction in heart disease and depression in people who live close to green and blue spaces.

But what can you do if your home ISN’T nestled in some idyllic location?

Well, the next best thing is trying to spend MORE time in natural spaces. In fact, being a city dweller, that’s exactly what I do.

My home is in a busy part of the city, but a canal – built in the 1880s to carry water for farmers – still remains. It’s been turned into what urban planners call a “greenway,” a path for runners, walkers, and bikers that runs along a piece of undeveloped land.

The trail isn’t exactly a wilderness, but the tree cover and wildlife make us feel far away from the city. And they give us a chance to relax and enjoy nature.

I also take every opportunity I can to hike in the woods.

I suggest you do the same, regularly spend time outdoors. Nature is healing. Plus, it could literally keep you out of the hospital.

P.S. Doctors are getting better at spotting Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases… and the earlier they’re diagnosed, the better your chances of staying ahead of them. Now, researchers have unlocked an exciting new clue that could diagnose these diseases earlier than ever.

Source:

“Associations of Greenness, Parks, and Blue Space With Neurodegenerative Disease Hospitalizations Among Older US Adults.” JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(12):e2247664. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.47664

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND