Many decades ago, my wife and I were in California for a wedding and something was really odd. I noticed that no one was smoking. I had never smoked growing up in New Jersey, but my mom had and it was very normal for people to smoke. I found out that California is very health conscious and smoking is not as common.
I recently read an article about a study done by the University of Exeter that explained that people who live around nature are 13% less likely to smoke and 26% less likely to drink alcohol every day compared to people who live in the least greenest area. The study looked at 18 countries and regions and involved over 18,000 people.
They found that people who were regularly exposed to nature had less cravings for alcohol and it was easier for them to quit smoking. I've always heard that it was beneficial to take a walk in the fields or smell the flowers, but now there is actual research showing the benefits. This could mean that people with these kinds of issues should be living or visiting nature on a regular basis.
I've never smoked and I hardly drink, but living in Colorado has a lot of nature. Many people here regularly talk about doing things outside like hiking and camping. Keep this in mind if you're looking for a new hobby, nature may be a good choice for you wherever you are.
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