Be Healthier, Spend More Time Outside

This article was published on 7/11/2018 and updated on 3/29/2022

 

Are you looking for ways to improve your health by spending more time outside? There’s never been a better time to splurge on outdoor living space. Many would argue high stress, crazy COVID ups and downs, and the need to reconnect with other forms of life outside the four walls of your home make it an imperative. What health benefits does spending more time outdoors offer?

7 Ways Spending Time Outside Boosts Health

According to Harvard Medical School and multiple studies, spending time outside provides significant health benefits. Cheaper than prescriptions, with no negative side effects, spending time outdoors:

1. Boosts Vitamin D levels

Those living in urban environments suffer far more health issues than those living near green spaces. Vitamin D, ‘the sunshine vitamin,’ is a prime reason. Natural light exposure is well-known to aid healing. It plays a crucial role in overall health. Your body most easily absorbs this vitamin from the sun. It offers protection against a wide variety of serious illnesses, from cancer, stroke, and heart disease to depression, arthritis, and osteoporosis. Most Americans severely lack Vitamin D – leading doctors to write prescriptions for affected patients to spend time outside

2. Reduces stress and depression

Studies indicate spending time outdoors boosts self-esteem and mood, improving many mental health conditions. Whether you’re keyed up or down in the dumps, time outdoors can help. Sunlight, a natural mood booster, offers the best treatment for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) - otherwise known as winter depression. Being outdoors also counteracts the physical manifestations of stress, decreasing heart rate and blood pressure and lowering cortisol levels, the hormone measured to identify a body under extreme stress.

3. Aids healing

Those living in urban environments suffer far more health issues than those living near green spaces. Multiple studies show a positive correlation between access to green space and health. Overall, time in nature reduces inflammation. Studies conducted at the University of Pittsburg show that exposure to natural light improves post-surgery recovery. Patients with the opportunity to enjoy nature views experienced less post-op pain and stress, requiring fewer medications.

4. Fights fatigue

The breathtaking and wondrous sights of nature offer inspiration, helping your body bounce back after periods of mental and physical fatigue.

5. Inspires activity

In direct contrast to an indoor, sedentary lifestyle, spending time outdoors spurs and enhances activity. Just 5 minutes of outdoor exercise delivers mood and self-esteem-boosting advantages. Children are especially inspired - more than doubly active when outdoors. Natural light enhances the benefits of any activity, offering a refreshing, invigorating workout environment that motivates people to greater workout intensity and length. 

6. Improves concentration

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder performed better on tests of concentration after ‘green therapy’ such as a walk in the park. Similar improvements have been seen in improving the working memory of those suffering from depression.

7. Boosts performance

In studies, people immersed in nature for 4 days showcased a 50% performance improvement on creative problem-solving tests, improving cognitive function at zero cost compared to side-effect-laden caffeine and pharmaceutical stimulants.

 

What Are You Waiting For? Enjoy the Outdoors More with an Adjustable Pergola!

Whether it’s to grab a bite to eat, relax with a good book, work, or workout – get outside and start reaping the health benefits. Forget weather worries. With a louvered roof pergola, you can enjoy a space that’s comfortable and functional, no matter the climate. Dial-in the perfect amount of sunlight, shade, or rain protection with the touch of a button. StruXure home pergolas give you the ability to take advantage of the health-boosting benefits of the great outdoors year-round. They feature built-in ceiling fans and lighting, infrared heaters, and motorized screens, blending the added square footage of your outdoor space seamlessly into your home. 

Got an outdoor living itch? We’ve got the cure. Contact StruXure of Denver for a complimentary residential pergola design consultation at 303-505-6669 today.

This article was originally published at: https://denverpergolas.com/pergolas/10-ways-an-outdoor-living-space-boosts-health/

 

Instead of Eating Out, Eat Outside!

This article was published on 7/16/2018   and updated on 3/22/2022 

Are you one of the many families shying away from indoor restaurant dining due to an ever-bloating food budget and COVID concerns? Even before rising inflation drove restaurant menu pricing to record levels, eating out cost a pretty penny, especially for those feeding a family. Why not jump off the restaurant bandwagon? Instead of eating out, eat outside in your own backyard.

Enjoy Cheaper, Healthier Meals in Your Outdoor Kitchen & Dining Space

Home-cooked meals cost less and are more nutritious than restaurant food. Instead of spreading yourself thin with frequent restaurant meal purchases, you could save money while increasing the quality of family downtime at home, building up your family unit nutritionally and emotionally in a new outdoor kitchen and dining space. Preparing and enjoying food together outdoors is a great bonding activity - especially when that time is enjoyed in a beautiful outdoor kitchen and dining space.

Reduce Monthly Food Expenses & Save Time Cooking Outdoors

Planning meals in advance makes outdoor cooking and dining a breeze. Weekly or bi-monthly shopping allows you to take advantage of sales and select the freshest, tastiest produce. Easily control portion size and ingredients, making substitutions based on preferences, food allergies, and health goals, choosing high-nutrient-value foods over mass-produced, fat and sugar-filled, cookie-cutter restaurant fare. Keep a weekly menu on a kitchen dry erase or chalkboard, thawing food as needed, enabling fast, 10–30-minute meal prep – less time than it takes to drive to and wait for food at dine-in and carryout food establishments.

Reduce Prep & Cleanup Work by Grilling Out

Today’s latest gas, infrared, and smart grilling technology makes weeknight grilling a snap. Cook for carnivores, vegans, and persistently picky eaters, easily managing custom dinner plates on your grill. Cleanup is fast and easy with far less prep and little to no need for pots and pans. Simply marinade, rub, or add a little oil and seasoning, and you’re on your way to a simply delicious dinner.

Enjoy Tastier Meals

Instead of mindlessly scarfing down a meal while staring at a screen, dining outdoors in nature makes you more attuned to the environment. The beauty of nature keeps you in the present moment, aware of the things going on around you - including the flavor of your outdoor feast.

Boost Immunity & Mental Health Simply by Dining Al Fresco 

Numerous studies show the stress-reducing benefits of spending time in natural, green spaces. Being outdoors is a natural mood booster, improving digestion. Awe-inspiring sights ground you in the present, helping you release tension surrounding past and future challenges. This space allows you to mentally and emotionally recharge, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels – the hormone marker used to measure stress. Sunlight exposure boosts Vitamin D production, offering added protection against depression, heart disease, cancer, stroke, osteoporosis, and more, supporting a healthier body better able to ward off colds, flu, and serious illness.

Start a New Family Tradition in Your Outdoor Kitchen & Dining Space

Studies show kids who eat at home are healthier, happier, perform better in school, and engage in fewer risky behaviors. Spending time together preparing, cooking, and enjoying the fruits of your collective efforts helps you stay connected. It offers the ideal opportunity to pass on family traditions and create new ones, from interesting ancestral stories to family recipes.

Open up to the advantages of eating outside. Reinvest your restaurant dining budget into a new, family-friendly outdoor kitchen and dining space. Enjoy the benefits of outdoor cooking and dining in any weather beneath the comfort of a louvered pergola. Contact StruXure of Denver, at 303-505-6669 for a complimentary residential pergola design consultation today.

This article was originally published at: https://denverpergolas.com/adjustable-residential-pergolas/instead-of-eating-out-eat-outside/

 

Spring Cleaning The Yard Tips

This article was published on 5-2-2018    and updated on  3-15-2022

 

Warmer weather is right around the corner – is your yard ready to host outdoor activities? Now is the time to prep your outdoor living space for fair weather. Get cleaning and setup out of the way so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the upcoming sunshiny season with these tips for spring cleaning the yard.

De-Grime Furnishings

Start with a top-to-bottom sweep, removing cobwebs, leaves, and debris from all porch and patio surfaces. Then clean patio furniture based on construction:

●       Wicker & rattan outdoor furniture

Remove dirt from the nooks and crannies in wicker and rattan with a soft brush or broom. For tiny crevices, a toothbrush works great. If wicker or rattan is soiled, clean with a mild soap and water solution, rinse, and let dry in the sun, adding a coat of lacquer for improved weather resistance.

●       Wrought iron outdoor furniture

Eliminate algae and prevent rust on wrought iron furnishings, cleaning with a stiff-bristled brush and disinfectant, such as OdoBan, that is child, pet, and plant-safe.

●       Wood outdoor furniture

Clean wood furniture with a mild soap and water solution and a soft brush, rinse, and air dry thoroughly. Seal regularly with species-compatible wood oil, wax, shellac, lacquer, polyurethane, or varnish to increase the lifespan of furnishings and keep them looking their best.

●       Other surfaces

Tackle stubborn mildew and grime with a 10:1 solution of warm water and your favorite environmentally-friendly outdoor cleaner, such as Simple Green or Biokleen. Scrub the mixture in with a brush or broom, then rinse thoroughly.

Care for Cushions

Remove dirt and mildew from cushions, giving them a good scrubbing. A mixture of a quart of warm water, a tablespoon of borax, and a teaspoon of dish detergent in a large bucket should do the trick. Work in using a sponge, taking care to wash all sides. Let soak for 15 minutes, rinse thoroughly, then stand cushions upright in the sunlight to dry.

Clear Concrete Stains

Adding a cup of plain household bleach to a bucket of soapy water is an easy way to eliminate mold, mildew, and stains on concrete without scrubbing or pressure washing. Apply with a scrubber, broom, or spray bottle, taking care to avoid nearby colorfast surfaces (and your shoes). Let the solution sit for an hour, then rinse thoroughly with a hose. Be sure to protect nearby plants and grass from bleach, keeping the solution mild and rinsing thoroughly to guard against dieback.

Hose Off Siding and Stair Sludge 

Clean buildup from your home’s siding and stairs using a pressure washer or a hose for more fragile tiled surfaces.

Refresh Lighting

Remove bugs and dirt from light fixtures, wipe down the glass on both sides, and disassemble if necessary. Light fixtures showing their age? A quick, inexpensive coat of spray paint is an easy way to restore old fixtures.

Clear Leaves

Trim back branches above your pergola canopy and outdoor living area to prevent leaf accumulation in gutters and on furnishings, which may cause scratches and damage in high winds. Clear leaves from home and pergola system gutters to prevent buildup that can lead to mold, pests, and overflowing. Remedy any scratches you find on your pergola with high-quality car polish. If scratches reach beyond the surface, contact a Denver Pergolas professional for touch-ups to ward off corrosion. 

Perfect Your Pergola

StruXure pergolas are virtually maintenance-free, featuring a tough, durable powder-coated aluminum finish that requires no painting or sealing. Only occasional rinsing with a solution of vinegar and water or spray-down with a hose is needed. After rinsing, wipe down with a soft rag (or clean floor mop with a long nap for hard-to-reach spots), and you’re done. Nearby grill left your pergola greasy? Gently cleaning with a degreasing dish soap like Dawn should do the trick.

Open up to new possibilities beneath the comfort of a motorized pergola. Spruce things up this spring and enjoy a carefree outdoor living season. Contact StruXure of Denver at 303-505-6669 to learn more today.

This article was originally published at: https://denverpergolas.com/adjustable-residential-pergolas/spruce-up-your-outdoor-space-with-these-10-spring-cleaning-tips/