For many of us, gardening means we get to experience the joy of the dirt between our fingers, watching colorful flowers bloom and enjoying the taste of amazing homegrown vegetables!
The benefits go further, because gardening:
- Promotes Weight Loss — Gardeners tend to weigh 11 to 16 pounds less and are up to 62% less likely to be obese compared to their non-gardening counterparts. In addition to eating more vegetables and fruits, gardeners are also more active.
- Gives a Boost to the Immune System — Soil is loaded with microorganisms, including beneficial bacteria, which have been shown to help support a robust immune system. A healthy immune system can help fight sickness and infection.
- Improves Fine Motor Skills — Gardening keeps those hand muscles strong and coordinated to handle fine motor skills is to garden.
- Improves Self Esteem and Brain Power — Gardening is also good activity for the brain and has been shown to protect brain health. In fact, one study found it decreased the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by up to 50%.
- Relieves Stress and Boosts Mood — The stress-relief benefits of gardening appear to stem from the its unique combination of exposure to sunlight, time in nature, and beautifying the environment.
- Improves Blood Pressure and Reduces Risk of Heart Disease — One study from Stockholm found that gardening regularly may cut the risk of both heart attack and stroke by up to 27% and death from all causes by up to 30% among those 60 and older.
Gardening is yet another component of an overall healthy lifestyle that has surprising benefits, including increasing life satisfaction. It gets you outside and in touch with nature as you move your body—a perfect recipe for improved mental and physical health.
I know I can’t wait to see my fruits and vegetables, sending up shoots.
Hayseeds Creative 