Flowers reduce stress hormones? #mindbodyspace #neuroscience #resilience

Can flowers lower your cortisol levels? The answer is yes. Multiple studies showed reduction in salivary cortisol when people appreciated flowers by looking, arranging, or smelling them. Just appreciating it, looking at this video, you can significantly decrease your cortisol. Arranging flowers decreased cortisol by over 37% in elementary school children in one study. Stress reduction goes even further. You can decrease your cortisol and balance your autonomic nervous system. Studies also show that mood status improved significantly with a decrease in negative mood factors like tension, anxiety, and overall mood disturbances. Effects could differ based on stress levels and individual characteristics, but generally, flowers are cortisol reducers and mood boosters. Lately, my favorites are ranunculus from Trader Joe's, combined with garden roses. If you don't want to get flowers yourself, just watch this video. Do you have a favorite?