Gardening is not only good for your physical health, it also boosts your mental health. Many people are proud of their garden. They have green fingers and love to garden. In addition, gardening also brings health benefits! This article explains 11 reasons why gardening is good for your health.
For example, did you know that you can burn 200 to 300 kilocalories per hour? Just by pulling weeds or planting flowers? You burn even more calories while mowing the lawn! As many as 250 to 350 calories per hour.
Top 11 reasons why gardening is good for your health.
1. Stress Reduction
Gardening as a form of exercise can be good for you. It helps to release endorphins in your body. Endorphins are the hormones that make you feel satisfied and relaxed. Plus, direct sunlight can improve your mood! During the winter months, a depression is more likely to occur due to a lack of sunlight. As soon as you start gardening outside, you’ll get that extra vitamin D. Which in return results in a better mood!
2. Burn calories
You may not think about it because it is so relaxing, but working in the garden works a lot of muscles. You bend, stand, sit on your knees and switch positions every time, while you are busy. With this in mind, it’s not a bad idea that you burn quite a few calories with an hour of gardening, right? To be precise, with an hour of gardening, a person who is has normal weight for his or her height, will burn about 300 calories on average. The number of calories you burn can differ per job:
- Weeding: approx. 130 calories per half hour
- Spit: 220 calories per half hour
- Sweeping the patio with a dustpan and dustpan: 120 calories per half hour
- Lawn mowing (non-electric): 120 calories per half hour
Gardening can be a tough workout. Depending on what you do and for how long of course. A simple hour of gardening can help you burn those calories. A perfect alternative to the gym!
3. Reduced Stroke Risk
According to the British Medical Journal, gardening can help reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. In the 60+ age group, regular gardening can even significantly increase life expectancy!
As mentioned, gardening reduces stress. And that not only benefits your head, but also your heart. Smart minds at the New York School of Medicine even state that gardening is good medicine for people who have heart problems and that it can help rehabilitate your heart.
4. Improved Immune System
Another benefit of the sun? As we just mentioned, the sun provides vitamin D. Vitamin D can help your body absorb calcium better. This keeps your bones strong and ensures a healthier immune system. This also makes you more resistant to nasty flu.
5. Growing fruits and vegetables
Do you not only have the most beautiful flowers and plants in your garden, but do you also grow vegetables and fruit? Then there is a good chance that you eat a lot healthier; after all, you have it at your fingertips. Researchers at the American University of Florida can confirm this. According to their results, first-year students who used to garden or still do, eat more fruits and vegetables than their classmates. Growing fruits and vegetables in your own garden is a win-win situation. You burn calories and vegetables and they contribute to a good diet.
6. Free Anger Therapy
If you’ve had a bad day, grabbing a shovel and doing some heavy pruning can be a great way to get rid of your negative feelings. In addition, destroying weeds before they take over the garden can also be very satisfying.
7. Enhance your senses
Spending time in the garden is a great way to enhance your senses. With all the different scents, colors and textures of plants around you, you can easily get the best out of your body. This can be especially valuable for young children learning about the different senses they have.
8. Responsibility and Satisfaction
Maintaining a garden and keeping plants alive is a big responsibility. This can be beneficial for those with mental health issues or those seeking self-esteem and fulfillment.
9. Reduced Risk of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease that can weaken bones and increase the risk of a bone fracture. By gardening regularly you train all major muscle groups. This can help reduce the risk of Osteoporosis.
10. Decreased Risk of Dementia
Research has shown that engaging in a physical activity such as gardening can help reduce the risk of dementia. Gardening not only gives your body a good workout, but it does the same for your brain. Gardening stimulates the growth of nerve cells in the brain, which also makes them function better. This keeps them healthy for longer and you remember things better for example. Scientists tested this in 2019 during a study of elderly people between the ages of 70 and 82. The elderly who gardened for twenty minutes every day (even simple tasks such as repotting and watering) showed a clear growth in brain cells in the memory.
11. Clear your head
Once you’re gardening, you don’t have to worry anymore. All the bills you have to pay, upcoming deadlines at work or other stressful situations. Breathe in the fresh air, pay attention to the garden and forget about your worries.
Conclusion
Besides all the joy gardening may bring, it is also a very healty way to spend your time. So next time you see a little too much weed for your liking, put on a smile and think about how all those health benefits while removing it.