Harry Gaples, smiling in a mountainous outdoor setting. The heading "A Man Who Made a Difference" is overlaid on the image.

We are deeply saddened to report the passing of Harry Gaples, our Institute’s co-founder and first Board President.

Harry was passionate about the powerful connection between nutrition and health, and he sought to help everyone take full advantage of the life-changing benefits of a healthy diet. He was a man of action, guided by an open and generous heart, whose influence touched countless lives.

Harry Gaples, wearing sunglasses and a big smile while riding a motorcycle.

It's unlikely that Harry could have imagined how far his visionary leadership would reach.

Today, the Gaples Institute’s public nutrition programs are used in school districts across 29 states, and our flagship nutrition science course for health professionals is required in nine medical schools—including Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and Uniformed Services University.

Our current Board President, Rebecca Gaples, has advanced our mission and has led the Gaples Institute with deep dedication. Over the years, she has expanded our growth and reach in a way that truly honors and builds upon Harry’s legacy.

Harry appreciated the healing power of nature, and so we dedicate this month’s newsletter to him, and to the connection between nature and health. May it inspire you to seek out and embrace the healing beauty that surrounds us.

With heartfelt remembrance,

Dr. Stephen Devries

Executive Director, nonprofit Gaples Institute

The Restorative Power of Nature

A delicate brown hummingbird hovers over a vibrant pink flower. The heading "Humming Along" is overlaid on the image.

Here's an experiment. Take a few seconds to focus your attention on the hummingbird above.

What came to mind for you?

Maybe a spark of awe, or quiet fascination, or perhaps a sense of calm. That’s no coincidence. Even brief encounters with nature—whether in real life or through images—activate favorable responses in our bodies, like lower blood pressure and a slower heart rate, helping us feel calm and relaxed. Studies also show that we think more clearly and solve problems more accurately after spending time in nature.

.Fun hummingbird fact: .Although your heart rate likely calmed when you gazed at this photo, know that the hummingbird’s heart rate can exceed 1,000 beats per minute! One of nature’s tiny miracles!

A tree with full branches, alongside an x-ray of the human lungs, with an animated cyclical arrow symbolizing how we exchange exhaled carbon dioxide for oxygen produced by trees. The heading "Breathing with Nature" is overlaid on the image.

Here’s another marvel of nature: The structure of your lungs looks strikingly like the limbs of a tree—and this resemblance goes beyond appearance. Doctors call the branching patterns “arborization”—a word that comes from the Latin word for “tree.”

And what a wonderful biological harmony it is, that trees take in the carbon dioxide we exhale, and in return, they make oxygen that we need for survival. In more ways than one, we’re in a beautiful cyclical balance with nature.

Whether it's a glimpse of a hummingbird or the quiet shade of a tree, nature has a way of drawing us into the present moment—and reminding us that we’re part of something much larger.

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