Exchanging your blues for green.

Previous to becoming the "outdoors type", I thought I had seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Winters were always times of depression and heavy Capt. Crunch eating. Then, once surfing became a year-round passion and I started biking to work rain or shine, those moods lifted. Yeah, I'm still a cantankerous boor, but at least now my boorishness presents itself in a steady flow throughout the seasons.

For years, I assumed exercise-released endorphins were responsible for making me a year-around happy camper, until I figured out that a bike ride to the farmers market or a walk on the beach could sometimes elevate my mood as much as a good surf.

Well, almost as much as a good surf.

Anyway, the latest wire to hit the Real Fitness Nerd Research Desk explains what the hell's going on in my noggin. It isn't just that I exercise. It's that I exercise outside. From the BBC:

There is growing evidence that combining activities such as walking or cycling with nature boosts well-being.

In the latest analysis, UK researchers looked at evidence from 1,250 people in 10 studies and found fast improvements in mood and self-esteem.

The research looked at many different outdoor activities including walking, gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, horse-riding and farming in locations such as a park, garden or nature trail.

The biggest effect was seen within just five minutes.

So there's another reason to get out and get active, as if there weren't fifty billion others.

The article goes on to suggest that green time might even become a useful therapy tool in fighting depression, although that probably won't take off, considering there's no profit center. Of course, Pfizer could always buy some of those parks that budget-troubled states like Arizona keep threatening to shut down. Then they could re-open them as "therapy forests" and charge a hefty entry fee.

How the hell is the FDA going to regulate that?