5 Amazing Health Benefits of Indoor Plants

I love indoor plants. They make our apartment look super cozy and have numerous health benefits. Yes, you read that correctly. Indoor plants can actually be good for your body. You probably already know from middle school science class that plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen {which is needed for us to LIVE}, but maybe you didn’t know that plants also purify air, improve health, improve mood, increase humidity, and help with productivity! Keep reading to learn more about the amazing health benefits of indoor plants. 

1. Purifies air

Indoor air can be as much as 12 times more polluted than outside air in some areas, due to compounds called VOCs found in paints, furnishings, clothing, and building materials. VOCs are a major cause of headaches, sore and itchy eyes, and nausea. NASA discovered that plants purify the air by pulling contaminants into soil. The microorganisms in the soil then convert VOCs into plant food. Cool huh!?

2. Improves Health

Ever wonder why it’s common for people to bring hospital patients plants as a get well gift? Plants can help improve health. According to researchers at Kansas State University, adding plants to hospital rooms speeds recovery rates of patients. Compared to patients without plants, patients with plants in their rooms requested less pain medication, had lower heart rates and blood pressure, experienced less anxiety and were released sooner from the hospital. 

3. Improves mood

Plain and simple. Plants make you happy. They help increase self-esteem and stability, improve mood and well-being and reduce stress and anxiety. Researchers at Washington State University found that people in a plant-filled room saw a greater drop in blood pressure after taking a stressful test, compared to those in a group without plant exposure. 

4. Increases humidity in the air

Did you know: plants release approximately 97% of the water they take in. When you place several plants together, you can actually increase the amount of humidity of a room. This helps decrease dry skin, sore throats and dry coughs. 

5. Helps with productivity

Plants are great at work. When you have many people occupying the same work environment, you get high carbon dioxide levels which can cause drowsiness and headaches. Plants are a lifesaver because they absorb carbon dioxide and refresh the air by releasing oxygen. Indoor plants can have mental benefits including improved concentration and memory, better goal achievement and heightened attention. 

NASA recommends one potted plant per 100 square feet of indoor space. Our apartment doesn’t have a lot of natural light, so I’m not able to have as many plants as I’d like. I hope that when we move into a new place, I’ll be able to have lots of plants, herbs and flowers! 

The top indoor plants are:

• Spider plants
• Elephant ears
• Peace lilies (not pet-friendly!)
• Snake plants
• Weeping figs
• Rubber plants
• Bamboo plants

Do you have indoor plants? Comment below and let me know what kinds you have!

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