Family camping trips make
childhood memories, and they
may make for happier grown-
ups. A sur vey of 3,585 adults
asked how much time they
spent outdoors as kids,
comparing it against psycho-
logical test scores. The results,
published in the International
Journal of Environment
Research and Public Health,
showed that outdoorsy kids
tend to become less-depressed
adults, and more fresh air led
to higher mental health scores.
It’s not just for kiddos, either.
Research from the University
of Exeter in the U.K. found that
adults who spend two hours a
week in nature seem to have
better health and psychologi-
cal well-being than indoor-only
folks. Most of the green space
they visited was within two
miles of their homes. Backyard
camping, anyone?Mental
Health
Rx: Go
Outside
At the farmers market, buy foods rich in
pre- and probiotics—like corn, water-
melon, and cabbage, plus yogurt and
farmer cheese. These help regulate the
gut microbiome, which may make you
less stressed, f inds a review of research in
General Psychiatry. This strong correlation
between food and anxiety is evidence of
the “gut-brain axis.” A diet that encourages
the good bacteria in your gut to f lourish
may improve anxiety symptoms, research-
ers found. Cutting out sugary food makes
it more effective, since that seems to
depress those good bugs. So grilled corn is
f ine, kettle corn not so much.WHY SUMMER CORN CAN
MAKE YOU MORE CHILL
FR
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TO
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N
Number of pounds gained from
sleeping 5 hours a night for 5
nights, University of Colorado
research says. Lack of sleep
hurts metabolism, and sleepy
study subjects snacked on two
times the calories at night.
3
094 SEPTEMBER 2019 MEN’S JOURNAL
INTELHealth News
A roundup of discoveries, updates, and advice to keep you living
(and feeling) your best. by J U L I A S AVAC O O L