The Health Benefits of Indoor Plants Are Pretty Ridiculous

It's officially that time of the year where we slowly start swapping our leggings for bicycle shorts, pass up a fitness class for an outdoor run, and hop on any chance to log some quality time in the outdoors. And while there's nothing quite like getting some vitamin D IRL, there's no reason you can't keep reaping the health benefits of nature year-round. 

Indoor plants don't just add some life to your décor—they can actually improve your overall health to boot. Scientists have found that just looking at greenery can help reduce anxiety and pain, so consider this your excuse to build a bona fide jungle in your living room. Check out some of the impressive health benefits of indoor plants below.

You likely already know that exercise is a doctor-recommended stress reliever. But according to research, you might experience even more of those endorphins—as well as lower blood pressure and cortisol levels—by gardening or spending time around plants. One 2008 study even showed that patients living in hospital rooms reported less anxiety when the rooms were furnished with greenery.

Hot tip for the office: Keeping a potted plant on your desk might be an easy way to get ahead. A 2014 study conducted by the University of Exeter showed that after researchers provided plants to a previously sleek and spare office environment, productivity improved by 15%. Employees also reported improvements in memory and mood.

Skip expensive air purifiers; haul in the greenery instead—it's a NASA-recommended strategy. When seeking out the most effective ways to filter the air in space stations, researchers found that certain plants seriously performed: Snake plants, ficus, bamboo, and ferns all top the list.

Remember your grade-school biology? In addition to cleaning the air, plants recycle the carbon dioxide we exhale back into the oxygen via photosynthesis.

Believe it or not, just looking at plants can temper your perception of discomfort. In a 1993 study, researchers put white panels, abstract paintings, and landscape photographs in different hospital rooms. Remarkably, the patients looking at the landscape photographs didn't just report less anxiety than the others—they also needed less pain medication. Scientists hypothesize that by reducing cortisol levels and improving mood, plants can help accelerate the healing process—something to keep in mind as we trudge through the remainder of cold and flu season.

Next: 7 Products Every Plant Parent Needs