Boosting Anticancer Immunity with Forest Bathing

Can forest bathing be effective as a natural cancer treatment? Visiting a forest can induce a significant increase in both the number and activity of natural killer cells, one of the ways our body fights off cancer.

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The video I mentioned is Are There Health Benefits of Spending Time in Nature?

Stay tuned for the follow-up video: Why Does Forest Bathing Boost Natural Killer Cell Function? ( ).

For other ways to improve immune function, check out:
• Using the Produce Aisle to Boost Immune Function ( )
• Preserving Athlete Immunity with Chlorella ( )
• Benefits of Green Tea for Boosting Antiviral Immune Function ( )
• How to Boost Your Immune System with Wakame Seaweed ( )
• Best Food to Prevent Common Childhood Infections ( )
• Best Food to Counter Stress-Induced Immune Suppression ( )

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-Michael Greger, MD FACLM

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  • @furyofbongos says:

    Do small trees and saguaros in Southern Arizona count as forests? Biologists actually call the landscape out here “Palo Verde and Saguaro forests.”

  • @davin8r says:

    Two videos in one day? You’re spoiling us 😁

  • @sergekamga4512 says:

    This is incredible. I’ll now incorporate one to two hours in a forest once a week

  • @JulieWeigel-b7x says:

    Does a coniferous vs deciduous forest matter?

  • @doloreswinsbarrow1110 says:

    Thanks for sharing 👍

  • @Thatcanadianguyehh says:

    I live in an area where I hike the forest daily, During the fall I hike 4 KM and pick blueberries getting a double boost> 🙂

    • @trevorregay9283 says:

      It would be interesting to see or get data on whether people who live in the country are less likely to get cancer than people who live in the city. Surely there have been studies on this, or how easy it would be to stratify the data. Then again, just because you like in a rural area doesn’t mean you go walking in a forest ……but it would seem it would help if you lived near a forest….then again, as Greger would say it needs to be put to the test……

  • @47retta says:

    How long does the visit need to be to see benefits? Does sitting in my suburban backyard with many oak trees scattered around count?

  • @StickInMudd says:

    Isn’t this the infrared bathing? Viva longevity channel has a video on this.

  • @waveydavie says:

    I knew there was a reason for being in forests most of my life, I’m even a warden in our local temperate rainforest! I’m sure gardening has a similar effect.
    I wonder if forestry workers get the same benefit?

  • @rescuebabybirds says:

    Yes, but not in winter in areas where are leaves have died, right?

  • @fabinounet says:

    is it the forest, or the nature? would a day at the beach work?

    • @Schnelllll says:

      That would be great to know. I read a while ago that inhaling so many spores from the forest helps the body, would be great to find more info on that regarding grounding time at the beach in comparison…

  • @Alexander-ok7fm says:

    Thank you!

  • @jamesherried9269 says:

    They should have included a trip to a beach (with no forests) in the study, to see if a trip to some other natural setting (without forests) had the same effect on NK cell activity ss forest-bathing had.

  • @fjalar4856 says:

    Thank you for educating us🙏 I’m greatful to live in the forest, for rest of my life❤

  • @user-245er4ud says:

    For those who live in or around cities, and don’t want to spend an entire day camping or something in the forest, what would be the threshold timeframe to have a significant boost? Can I go for a 20 min jog and still see similar results or would it be much lower? I would assume the more the better in this case, up to 1 day apparently, but what about 1 hour? Visiting a state park for 1 hour is at least feasible, when nearby a city.

  • @VeganChiefWarrior says:

    I live in a forest and have horrible depression and anxiety so it doesn’t work if you’ve lived in one for 15 years

  • @lenstafford2384 says:

    I’ve been curious for a while if a walk in a prairie with few trees would show anything like this. If so, fascinating, if not then more evidence for the forest.

  • @mcanultymichelle says:

    I wonder if that would work walking along the beach once a week🤷‍♀️

  • @nazokashii says:

    Fascinating! Thank you so much <3

  • @KJSvitko says:

    Excessive stress is bad for your health. Relax. Chill out. Meditate. Do breathing exercises. Take a nap. Go for a walk in nature.

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