Doctors warn: The mistake many make at home that harms health

A new survey reveals that Americans spend less than two hours a week outdoors. A natural medicine expert warns against prolonged time in enclosed buildings, causing four major harms: poor sleep, burnout, brain fog, and abdominal fat accumulation. The recommended solution: 17 minutes a day in a green or blue space.

A new national survey reveals that nearly half of Americans spend less than two hours a week outside. Dr. John La Puma, an expert in nature-based medicine, warns in his book "The Indoor Epidemic" that humans now spend about 93% of their lives inside enclosed buildings. According to him, this lifestyle exacts a "hidden health tax" manifesting as chronic fatigue, difficulty falling asleep, and a constant need for caffeine, even when lab tests are normal. La Puma defines four major harms: poor sleep from lack of daylight to synchronize the biological clock; burnout from screen exposure and lack of a view of the horizon; brain fog from carbon dioxide buildup in unventilated offices; and abdominal fat accumulation from disruption of cortisol secretion. The recommended solution: 17 minutes a day of intentional time in a green or blue space, 10 minutes outdoors without sunglasses in the first hour after waking, and looking at the horizon through an open window for one minute every hour. According to La Puma, adopting these habits can turn outdoor minutes into real medicine.