Page 185 - COVID-19: The Great Reset

Throughout the pandemic, we were reminded that rules of
social distancing, hand washing and mask wearing (plus self-

isolation for the most vulnerable people) are the standard tools to
protect ourselves from COVID-19. Yet, two other essential factors
that are strongly contingent upon our exposure to nature also play
a vital role in our physical resilience to the virus: immunity and

inflammation. Both contribute to protecting us, but immunity
decreases with age, while inflammation increases. To improve our
chances of resisting the virus, immunity must be boosted and
inflammation suppressed. What part does nature play in this

scenario? She is the leading lady, the science now tells us! The
low-level of constant inflammation experienced by our bodies
leads to all sorts of diseases and disorders, ranging from
cardiovascular conditions to depression and reduced immune

capabilities. This residual inflammation is more prevalent among
people who live in cities, urban environments and industrialized
areas. It is now established that a lack of connection with nature is
a contributing factor to greater inflammation, with studies showing

that just two hours spent in a forest can alleviate inflammation by
lowering cytokine levels (a marker of inflammation). [163]

All this boils down to lifestyle choices: not only the time we
spend in nature, but also what we eat, how we sleep, how much

we exercise. These are choices that point to an encouraging
observation: age does not have to be a fatality. Ample research
shows that together with nature, diet and physical exercise can
slow, even sometimes reverse, our biological decline. There is

nothing fatalistic about it! Exercise, nature, unprocessed food…
They all have the dual benefit of improving immunity and
suppressing inflammation. [164] This dovetails with the point we just
made about consumption habits. It would be surprising if all this

newly found evidence does not lead to greater awareness about
responsible consumption. At the very least, the direction of the
trend – less depredation, more sustainability – seems clear.

The reset for individuals: the pandemic has drawn our

attention to the importance of nature. Going forward, paying more
attention to our natural assets will progressively become
paramount.

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