Why People Love Plants
In 99% of humankind’s evolution, we lived among nature. So, our present-day instincts make us feel so at home with nature. Today, dreamhouses are those by the sea, by the lake, or near parks with plenty of trees. Plants are the easiest way for us to get close to nature again. In the primal times, new leaves and flowers caused joy in humans. That’s because it meant winter was over and life and food would be back. Among present-day plant lovers, new leaves still cause a rise in dopamine. This feel-good brain chemical is triggered by prospects of reward. Oxytocin, the feel-good brain hormone sparked by bonding, is released when people nurture their potted and garden friends. It’s almost like caring for pets and even children. That may explain why most plant lovers are women. They were the gatherers and nurturers in humankind’s evolutionary history. Dopamine: The Pathway to Pleasure by Stephanie Watson on the Harvard Health Publishing website The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes us Happier,