Aaron Hartman, MDFunctional Medicine Specialist | Clinical Researcher

How Nature Exposure Affects Cortisol #shorts

14 Apr 2026 · 0 min

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In this short video, Dr. Aaron Hartman explains a Japanese practice known as forestry medicine, where participants walk along scenic forest paths while their oral cortisol levels are measured. The data show that a 45‑minute walk in nature leads to a measurable drop in cortisol, indicating that brief nature exposure can significantly boost the body's ability to handle stress.

There's actually a field of medicine in Japan called forestry medicine where they'll actually measure people's cortisol levels. They go out in the forest, they have these little beautiful paths. They'll measure your oral cortisol levels as you're walking and they'll see them come down just in a 45-minute walk in nature. So just nature exposure can have a massive impact on your body's resilience or ability to deal with stress.

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