健康生活:豪宅不如農家院 住在郊區最健康

　 Few would be surprised to learn that those who live in upmarket, leafy suburbs tend to have healthier lives.

　　大概不會有人感到驚訝，那些居住在高檔的綠樹環抱的郊區的人們過着更加健康的生活。

Now, however, scientists have found that being closer to nature brings even greater advantages.

然而現在，科學家們發現，親近自然其實可以帶來更多的好處。

Those who live in places surrounded by greenery are also more generous, sociable, calm and trusting – no matter how impoverished the area might be.

那些住在綠樹成蔭之處的人們在會表現的更加剛開大方，善於交際，冷靜與信任，這與該區域的經濟情況並不相關。

The findings come from a study by professor Frances Kuo, a professor of the landscape and human health.

這個發現來自於一位名叫Frances Kuo的教授，她是研究環境景觀和人類健康之間關聯的專家。

She says that the health benefits come irrespective of other factors and that once we are deprived of green space, our health suffers dramatically.

她表示，在不考慮其他有益健康的因素的前提下，一旦生活中的綠色出現了缺失，我們的健康將遭到影響。

Prof Kuo said that access to nature and green environments yields better cognitive functioning, more self-discipline and impulse control, and greater mental health overall.

Kuo教授稱，大自然和綠色的環境可以讓我們受益良多，並有助於提高認識能力，增強自我約束力和對衝動的控制力，對於整體的心理健康情況而言都是有好處的。

But greener environments also enhance recovery from surgery, enable and support higher levels of physical activity, improve immune system functioning, and help diabetics achieve healthier blood glucose levels.

而更多綠色的環境還促進在手術之後身體的復原情況，利於更加活躍的運動，提高免疫系統功能能，幫助糖尿病患者的血糖恢復到健康的水平。

By contrast less access to nature is linked to exacerbated attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms, higher rates of anxiety disorders, and higher rates of clinical depression.

相比之下，很少接近綠色的人更容易出現煩躁不安的症狀，同時加劇了焦慮的產生，臨牀表現上出現抑鬱的情況。