The outdoors activity that makes you more likely to eat healthily

Spending time in nature could influence dietary habits, a groundbreaking study has suggested.

According to researchers, the association may be driven by green environments assisting people in fostering more positive relationships with their bodies.

Led by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), the research surveyed 500 participants regarding how they interact with nature in their daily routines.

Respondents also completed questionnaires designed to assess body image, self-compassion, and their personal sense of connection to the natural world.

Viren Swami, professor of social psychology at Anglia Ruskin University, said: “These findings are important because they provide the first evidence that contact with nature may shape people’s eating habits.

“We already know that contact with natural environments can reduce anxiety and depression and improve various measures of wellbeing, including life satisfaction.”

Part of the research focused on "intuitive eating", an approach where individuals respond to their body’s natural signals instead of adhering to strict dietary rules.

The study, published in the journal Body Image, concluded that the direct link between nature exposure and intuitive eating was not statistically significant.

However, the findings suggest nature was “indirectly associated” with intuitive eating through a number of pathways, including higher levels of body appreciation and self-compassion.

Researchers said the results “provide the first evidence of pathways linking nature contact and a trait-based approach to eating that has been linked to a wide range of psychological and physical benefits”.

Prof Swami added: “Our new study is the first to show how it can influence our eating habits, thanks to helping people develop more positive relationships with their bodies and greater self-compassion, and these findings could have practical benefits for public health professionals.

“We recognise there are limitations to this study, particularly as it is based on self-reported data, and further studies in other countries are needed.

“However, these initial results suggest that greater access to and engagement with nature could support efforts to promote healthier, more sustainable eating behaviours.”

Experts say eating more nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables known as “superfoods” can help boost both mental and physical health.

Many of these foods have qualities that benefit the brain, such as mood-regulating omega-3 fatty acids and essential vitamins and minerals like magnesium and vitamin D.

And they can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

“The foods we eat not only affect our mood, but our sleep patterns and our energy levels,” Cleveland Clinic psychologist Susan Albers said in a statement. “And that can impact us throughout the entire day.”