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The Amazing Health Benefits of the Color Green

The color you see nearly everyday—in the trees outside your house or in your daily dose of vegetables—is actually essential to your well-being. According to CNN, green, which is seen by the human eye better than any other hue in the spectrum, has amazing health benefits, from keeping you calm to helping you live longer. Below, we’ve rounded up the most surprising ways this hue can leave you feeling and performing your best!

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Preventing illness

Green is associated with the nature, so it’s no surprise that the color can help you become more aware of your environment. Noticing a change of color in leaves, fruits, and vegetables can indicate age or ripeness, and even be a warning sign of something that has gone bad. In fact, this method dates all the way back to the ancient times, when early scavengers used the backdrop of green foliage to distinguish between harmful and edible colored berries. Go figure!

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Keeping you calm

Yep, that’s right. If you’re feeling stressed, simply look at the color green. Some scientists believe that because our eyes are at the peak of their perception to detect the wavelengths associated with the color green, it may have soothing properties. In other words, our eyes don’t have to strain to perceive the color, so they can relax. It could be the reason why the sedative hue appears in so many hospitals, schools, and work environments.

Helping you live longer

According to a 2016 study, environments with natural vegetation may increase your longevity. Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that of the 100,000 female participants examined, those living in or near green space had higher life expectancies and lower rates of mental illness. At the conclusion of the eight-year study, the results were as follows: Participants living near green space had a 12 percent lower death rate than those living away from green areas.

According to the study authors, green space can provide more opportunities for socializing outdoors, which is beneficial for individuals’ mental health. Additionally, they assert that green space reduces exposure to pollution, which was found to be a leading cause of respiratory-related deaths in those who did not live in greener areas.

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Who knew such a common color could be so beneficial to your health? So place some plants in your home and change up your wardrobe—it’s time to go green this summer!

h/t CNN.com

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