Simple reasons why gardening is good for you
Did you know that gardening offers more than just beautiful flowers and fresh produce? In fact, it can also provide several unexpected health benefits. Here are eight reasons why gardening can improve your well-being.
Gardening can possibly increase your self-esteem
Even if you don’t consider yourself skilled at gardening, successfully planting, tending, and harvesting plants can boost your self-image and help you feel more connected to nature. Accomplishing new tasks is always gratifying, and mastering gardening skills may leave you feeling like you can take on anything.
Gardening can offer benefits to your cardiovascular system
According to Robert Hutchins, MD, MPH, an internal medicine physician at UNC Health, gardening offers physical benefits due to the manual labor involved in digging, planting, and weeding. He explains that the hard work of gardening can burn calories and strengthen the heart, providing some cardiovascular benefit.
Gardening can help you reduce your stress levels
According to Dr. Hutchins, gardening can be beneficial in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. He explains that gardening allows individuals to focus their minds on a goal or task, providing a sense of purpose and accomplishment. This is especially important in today’s climate, where there is much discussion of illness and death, as gardening allows individuals to witness growth and thriving.
Gardening can potentially increase your happiness.
Digging in the dirt and getting some soil under your nails can actually boost your mood and make you feel happy. This is because the healthy bacteria M. vaccae found in soil can increase the levels of serotonin in the brain and reduce anxiety.
Gardening can lead to an improvement in your hand strength
Gardening doesn’t just cultivate plants, it can also cultivate hand strength. With all the digging, planting, and pulling involved, it’s a great way to keep your hands and fingers strong and healthy for a long time.
Gardening can be a good activity for your whole family
Gardening offers both solo and social opportunities for enjoyment. It’s a great way to bond with loved ones and share the happiness and stress relief that gardening can provide. In particular, gardening can provide special benefits for children. Exposure to dirt at a young age has been linked to a range of health benefits, including a reduced risk of allergies and autoimmune diseases.
Gardening can give you a healthy boost of vitamin D
A sufficient amount of vitamin D can increase calcium levels, which can be beneficial for bone health and the immune system. Older adults have been found to achieve adequate vitamin D levels through exposure to sunlight. However, it is always important to remember to apply sunscreen.
Growing your own food can help you eat much healthier
Growing your own vegetables, herbs, and fruits in a garden ensures that you have access to fresh produce that has not been treated with pesticides. This is as close to the farm-to-table concept as it gets, according to Dr. Hutchins, as you can eat what you grow.
Simple reasons why gardening is good for you conclusion
In conclusion, research conducted globally has established a direct correlation between gardening and improved quality of life, irrespective of whether one lives in an urban or rural area, with advantages extending to people of all age groups, from kids to seniors.
