(UR<\/a>)\u00a0It\u2019s no secret: trees are an integral part of how we live on this planet. From their well-known and vital role in\u00a0the oxygen cycle<\/a>, and their importance to their\u00a0ecosystems<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 they are also central to the human\u00a0food system<\/a>. But trees also have other, less obviously integral\u00a0benefits<\/a>\u00a0that manifest in our lives. Sure, without trees it would definitely be harder to breathe \u2014 but it might also be harder to just relax.<\/p>\n

Their aesthetic value in urban areas aside, there are many reasons to love trees\u00a0planted<\/a>\u00a0in cities. For one, trees\u00a0reduce<\/a>\u00a0stress. According to\u00a0research<\/a>, spending time among trees and other vegetation reduces stress while easing brain fatigue. Populations living near trees have a\u00a0lower amount of cortisol<\/a>, a stress-related hormone, meaning they experience stress less acutely than people who don\u2019t live near trees.<\/p>\n

Trees and urban green spaces have also been\u00a0shown<\/a>\u00a0to help children with attention deficit disorder. By simply wandering through a green space before testing, children experienced positive cognitive effects that helped them focus on tasks in ways other settings did not. But reduced stress and increased attention span aren\u2019t the only ways trees help humans cope.<\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(UR)\u00a0It\u2019s no secret: trees are an integral part of how we live on this planet. From their well-known and vital role in\u00a0the oxygen cycle, and their importance to their\u00a0ecosystems\u00a0\u2014 they are also central to the human\u00a0food system. But trees also have other, less obviously integral\u00a0benefits\u00a0that manifest in our lives. Sure, without trees it would definitely […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":31804,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[18509,25831,11141,25832,986,916,1167,4771,25833,25834],"class_list":["post-31803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-environment","tag-achievement-gap-in-the-united-states","tag-aesthetics","tag-best-practice","tag-emerald-ash-borer","tag-food","tag-food-and-drug-administration","tag-tree","tag-urban-area","tag-urban-planning","tag-wildlife"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n