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 Free Articles
Stop Obsessing Over Diet Trends
Can we stop with the endless diet debates already? Every other week there’s a new headline shouting about which diet is best for weight loss, heart health, or diabetes. Paleo, keto, low-carb, high-protein… it’s exhausting. And now, a new meta-analysis is out comparing the Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet, and something called AHEI (that’s “Alternative...
A New Reason to Ditch Processed Junk
If you’ve ever walked the inside aisles of your local grocery store and thought, “This is all just junk,” your instincts were spot on. A new study published in the journal Thorax just added another red flag to the list of dangers linked to ultra-processed food—a 41 percent higher risk of lung cancer. That’s right....
When Being Winded on Stairs Is Serious (And When It Isn’t)
I had an athlete visit me recently because he experienced shortness of breath while climbing stairs. He is in great shape, so he was worried about what it might mean. “Doc,” he said, “I run five miles three times a week. Why am I huffing and puffing after two flights of stairs?” His concern is...
Study EXPOSES Hidden Danger Lurking in Your Car
We think of our homes and cars as safe havens. But according to a startling new study, they may be flooding your lungs with microscopic plastic particles—every single day. Researchers in France recently found that adults inhale an average of 68,000 microplastic particles daily from indoor air alone. To put that in perspective, that’s about...
Mailbag: Is Modern Food Making You Snore?
“What can cause snoring, and is there a way to correct this issue?” —Seeking Silence Hi Seeking, Snoring happens when the soft tissues in your throat relax and vibrate as air passes through during sleep. While several factors can cause snoring—from sleep position to nasal congestion—I want to share one trigger that might surprise you....
Simple Food Swap SLASHES Dementia Risk 28%
Let’s be honest… who would jump at the chance to cut their dementia risk by 28 percent. And no, you don’t need to run marathons, survive on broccoli, or learn to play the zither (whatever that is) to make it happen. All it takes is one easy swap—something that’s probably already in your refrigerator. Researchers...
This SMART Floss Exposes Hidden Health Danger
Scientists have created dental floss that doesn’t just clean between your teeth—it also tracks your stress while you’re flossing. Now, I know what you’re thinking… “Great—now even flossing is going to stress me out by telling me how stressed I am.” But this fascinating new tool from Tufts University could be a game-changer for understanding...
Is This "Safe" Sweetener Damaging Your Brain?
The headlines are alarming… “Popular Sugar Substitute Linked to Brain Cell Damage” and “Erythritol Could Damage Critical Brain Barrier” are just two of the dozens I’ve spotted recently. But before you toss every sugar-free product in your pantry, let’s take a closer look at what this study actually shows—and what it doesn’t. The latest research...
This Summer Threat Could SPIKE Your Blood Sugar
Picture this… It’s another scorching hot summer day. You crank up the air conditioning while watching the weather forecast, which predicts yet another “record-breaking” heat wave. It’s starting to feel like just another miserably uncomfortable summer. But what you might not realize is that—if you have diabetes—those rising temps could do far more damage to...
Move Over Yogurt—5 Foods That Pack MORE Probiotics
Let’s talk about your gut. The microbiome is the collection of trillions of bacteria and other tiny organisms that live in and on your body—especially in your gut—and help keep you healthy. I’ve written often about how vital it is to maintain a healthy microbiome. And you might have dutifully added yogurt to your shopping...