Vitamin N (nature)

“Vitamin N”—for “nature” was popularized by Richard Louv in his book, The Nature Principle: Human Restoration and the End of Nature-Deficit Disorder (2011). Louv stated that Vitamin N enhances physical and mental health, and that most Americans didn’t have enough of the vitamin.
 
“Vitamin N” was cited only infrequently before Louv’s book. “Vitamin N—for nature” was cited in a 2003 book. “I need my vitamin ‘N’. (Nature)” was posted on Twitter on March 11, 2009.
 
   
Wikipedia: Richard Louv
Richard Louv (born 1949) is an American nonfiction author and journalist. He is best known for his seventh book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder (first published in 2005 by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill), which investigates the relationship of children and the natural world in current and historical contexts. Louv created the term “nature-deficit disorder” to describe possible negative consequences to individual health and the social fabric as children move indoors and away from physical contact with the natural world – particularly unstructured, solitary experience. Louv cites research pointing to attention disorders, obesity, a dampening of creativity and depression as problems associated with a nature-deficient childhood. He amassed information on the subject from practitioners of many disciplines to make his case, and is commonly credited with helping to inspire an international movement to reintroduce children to nature.
 
Google Books
More Secrets of Happy Children:
How to Put Your Love into Action and Raise Strong, Confident and Loving Children
By Steve Biddulph
New York, NY: Marlowe & Company
2003
Pg. 38:
Vitamin N—for nature.
 
Twitter
S3Photo
‏@S3Photo
Sniffing lemons, and craving grilled cheese sandwiches. When will spring finally arrive in Minneapolis? I need my vitamin “N”. (Nature)
2:04 PM - 11 Mar 2009
   
The Huffington Post
Linda Buzzell (Psychotherapist, ecotherapist, co-editor of “Ecotherapy: Healing With Nature in Mind”)
The Absurdity of Modern Exercise
Posted: 08/06/2010 8:14 am EDT Updated: 11/17/2011 9:02 am EST
(...)
Another plus to working out at home in a natural way is that I can enjoy being outside, getting my vitamin N (nature) while listening to the birds and breathing fresh air rather than the recycled perspiration of my fellow sweaters at the gym.
 
OCLC WorldCat record
The nature principle : human restoration and the end of nature-deficit disorder
Author: Richard Louv
Publisher: Chapel Hill, N.C. : Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2011.
Edition/Format:   Print book : English : 1st ed
Database: WorldCat
Summary:
In this book the author argues that a strong connection to nature is essential for human health. Supported by research, anecdotal evidence, and personal stories, the author shows how tapping into the restorative powers of the natural world can boost mental acuity and creativity; promote health and wellness; build smarter and more sustainable businesses, communities, and economies; and ultimately strengthen human bonds. He outlines seven precepts he calls the “Nature Principle”, which include balancing technology excess with time in nature; a mind/body/nature connection, which he calls “vitamin N,” that enhances physical and mental health; expanding our sense of community to include all living things; and purposefully developing a spiritual, psychological, physical attachment to a region and its natural history. The book presents examples of these precepts, from studies of how exposure to a common soil bacteria increases production of serotonin in the brain to designing shopping malls inspired by termite mounds
 
Twitter
Richard Louv
‏@RichLouv
Vitamin N and The Nature Principle http://ping.fm/AuFkZ
1:37 PM - 22 Apr 2011
 
The Huffington Post
Richard Louv (Author, ‘LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder,’ ‘THE NATURE PRINCIPLE’; Chairman emeritus, Children & Nature Network)
10 Reasons Why We Need Vitamin N
Posted: 07/13/2012 8:02 am EDT Updated: 09/12/2012 5:12 am EDT
(...)
Here are 10 reasons children and adults need nature: ...
   
Google Books
The Women’s Guide to Stress Relief in 7 Easy Steps
By Deborah Mitchell
New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press
2013
Pg. 182:
According to Louv, the need to connect with nature is critical. “We need that affiliation, that connection with nature. Without it, we do not remain fully human.” Louv has called getting out in nature a dose of “vitamin N,” noting that spending time in nature boosts our senses and can enhance our work productivity as well.
 
The Doctors
April 05, 2013
4 WAYS TO GET YOUR VITAMIN N
Are you getting enough “vitamin N?” Women’s Health magazine partnered with The Nature Conservancy, a charitable U.S. environmental organization, to conduct an online survey in December 2012, which examined women’s relationships with the outdoors. The findings concluded that women are spending more time indoors than ever, putting them at risk for a deficiency in vitamin N, or nature.