Gardening: Add Vibrance to Your Health

Emerging reports have shown that gardening has gained popularity around the world during the pandemic. The results show that more than 75% of the participants benefited from gardening activities, and respondents commented that gardening is a meaningful and an enjoyable experience for them.

Various studies show that gardening activities can bring many mental and physical benefits. One of the pluses related to physical health is that it can give you a boost of vitamin D. The vitamin D will then facilitate the absorption of calcium, which promotes stronger bones and a healthier immune system. Moreover, being out in the sun is linked to better sleep quality, lower risk of autoimmune disease, and weight loss. In addition, gardening can help reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke. This is because it is a great form of physical exercise. A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association reported that even routine activities in daily life can help prevent cardiovascular disease in women over the age of 62. Furthermore, one hour of gardening could help you burn up to 300 calories. Gardening can also encourage healthy eating. It will help us develop a lasting habit of eating plenty of fruits and veggies.

Now let’s explore how gardening can benefit mental health. Researchers have found that this activity can improve mood. Making contact with a healthy bacteria living in the soil called mycobacterium vaccae can help increase levels of serotonin, which is thought to modulate mood, happiness and anxiety. The results show that gardening reinforces positive emotions and reduces feelings of depression. People of all ages can enjoy gardening and get benefits from it, but children and the elderly in particular may gain the most.

Gardening is generally a safe activity. However, there are a few things to watch out for because there can still be some potential risks. 1) Wear protective gear. 2) Be sun smart. 3) Consider child and animal-person companion safety. 4) Don’t overdo it. As a rule of thumb, learn to listen to your body, take frequent rest and work within your abilities.