20 minutes outdoors as good as cup of coffee

From being stuck in the house to deskbound workers, a simple stroll in the open air is as revitalising as a caffeine-fuelled injection, a new study claims.

And people do not even have to do something active outside to enjoy the benefits. Us research found they would be more energised outdoors even if they were doing nothing, it adds.

The underlying bond between the human body and the natural world serves to makes "people feel more alive" said psychology professor Richard Ryan for the Journal of Environmental Psychology.

The researcher from the University of Rochester, New York state, added: "Nature is fuel for the soul."

He said: "Often when we feel depleted we reach for a cup of coffee, but this suggests a better way to get energized is to connect with nature."

His team conducted five different experiements on 537 student volunteers, exposing them to a variety of situations both active and sedentary inside a building and outside in the open air or by a river.

Then the researchers measured their energy levels and moods throughout the day as they experienced different environments and activities.

They were also told to imagine themselves in different surroundings to see if their energy levels went up merely by the thought of being in the fresh air or look at photos of various locations.

The results showed the students felt more energetic when they imagined themselves to be outdoors and a massive increase in vitality after just 20 minutes in the actual open air.

But the benefits may be more than just brightening the mood of workers tied to their desks or inner city dwellers.

Prof Ryan added: "People with a greater sense of vitality don't just have more energy for things they want to do, they are also more resilient to physical illnesses.

"One of the pathways to health may be to spend more time in natural settings. We have a natural connection with living things.

"Nature is something within which we flourish, so having it be more a part of our lives is critical, especially when we live and work in built environments."