Environmental health
Immersing yourself in green spaces improves your health and well-being
Being close to nature is good for your health, well-being and enhances your quality of life. Multiple scientific studies indicate that exposing our body to green spaces can reduce stress, anxiety and insomnia; improve cognition; reduce mortality, morbidity and overweight; help maintain cardiovascular health; prevent some diseases; and benefit the immune system, among other physical and mental benefits.
In addition, green spaces in cities also offer ecosystem services that are valuable to human health. These include mitigating air pollution, reducing noise, increasing biodiversity and regulating the temperature by curbing the heat island effect.
Prescribing nature: a health proposal
DKV's proposal is to work towards creating a healthier world. And we are particularly committed to environmental care due to the close relationship between health and the environment. We already know that a polluted environment affects our body, but the benefits that nature brings to our health are less known among health professionals and the general public.
In some health consultations, such as in Japan and Scotland, health professionals prescribe exposure to nature alongside the traditional recommendation of a balanced diet and regular physical exercise. El proyecto Naturaleza Saludable de DKV Seguros es una iniciativa pionera en España que facilita el contacto con entornos naturales y promueve la recomendación de naturaleza como práctica saludable para mejorar el estado de la salud general.
Nature dose: a pioneering tool
Together with ISGlobal, we have developed an indicator to identify the degree of personal contact with green spaces. The application Quiero cuidarme Más by DKV includes a new nature dose indicator that informs users of the degree of exposure to green spaces. It includes personalised recommendations to increase contact with natural environments and the monitoring value.
How to immerse oneself in a forest: mobile-device guided itineraries
We do not need to go too far to immerse ourselves in nature. We can also expose our body to nature in the city by walking in parks or through tree-lined streets. Even the presence of plants in our home or in working spaces generate positive effects on our health and well-being.
To facilitate your exposure to nature in unique and accessible spaces, we have a list of tours through different nature parks and forest landscapes in Spain where you can immerse yourself. This compilation of itineraries is organised together with EUROPARC España and Forest Therapy Institute , and it is open to suggestions. The itineraries have been geolocated using track files that can be downloaded for free from DKV Seguros' Wikiloc profile and followed using a mobile device with Wikiloc's free app.
Scientific evidence: latest research on green spaces and health
In collaboration with internationally renowned research centres, such as Instituto de la Salud Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal), Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Ambiental (ICTA-UAB), and Centro de Investigación Ecológica y Aplicaciones Forestales (CREAF-UAB), we publish Blog360 de DKV articles that explore the links between human health and nature on DKV's Blog360, written by active researchers and specialists in the field. With the collaboration of Ballena Blanca.
Publications
En estas 2 publicaciones del Observatorio DKV de Salud y Medio Ambiente recogemos la evidencia científica publicada e iniciativas realcionadas con la exposición a la naturaleza y sus efectos en la salud y el bienestar.
Innovación y emprendimiento ambiental
Activist voices
The podcast by DKV to inspire, excite and raise awareness.
Conversations, stories and experiences to change our health, our lifestyle and our planet. Because we can achieve a healthier and more sustainable world!
Podcast sobre medioambiente
