Gardening isn’t just about making the house look good (although that’s still part of it). Caring for plants can do incredible things for our health. In fact, studies found that, more often than not, nature has a huge impact on our health.

Placed in a calm, green environment, people tend to feel happier and more at ease. Seeing, smelling and touching plants can also enhance mood and boost mental health. Plus, the simple act of tending to plants can also contribute to better physical fitness later on.

Health benefits of gardening

Feeling stressed, tired or anxious? Grab a spade, some dirt, a couple of seeds and start digging. Here are some of the reported long term health benefits of gardening:

Gardening can encourage healthier food choices

Nothing beats fresh fruits and vegetables in terms of good nutrition. Having a lush and sustainable edible garden can make it easier for you (and your kids) to adopt a balanced diet and choose healthier foods.

It burns a lot of calories

Gardening might be a bit tedious at times, but there is a bright side to this. Repetitive garden tasks like digging and tilling the soil are considered moderate-intensity exercise. Do them often enough and you should notice improvements in terms of your physical fitness.

In fact, a 2012 study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that gardeners had a healthier body mass index (BMI) compared to non-gardeners. So if you’re looking to shed a couple of pounds, start digging – literally.

Spending time outside is good for the bones

The more time you spend outside tending to your garden, the stronger your bones get. One reason for this is that as you go about the garden, you’re able to absorb a bit of vitamin D from the sun. This immune-boosting micronutrient is also essential for bone health.

Exercising regularly can also reduce the rate of bone loss in older adults. Most bone fractures occur because of a fall. Older adults reduce their chances of falling by staying active to build muscle strength and stall the rate of bone loss.

Gardening can lead to better mental health

Despite the actual labor that goes into it, gardening can help ease stress and enhance mood. Chronic stress is linked to health complications like insomnia and hormonal imbalances, and spending time outdoors in fresh air and sunshine can help restore these back to normal.

It can reduce the risk of heart disease

Gardening might not be as intense as a morning jog, but it can help cut the risk of heart disease nonetheless. Studies found that gardening can also reduce the risk of developing health complications related to heart disease, such as heart attack and stroke.

Gardening encourages resourcefulness

One of the best things about gardening is that it fosters resourcefulness. For instance, instead of chucking kitchen scraps into the trash bin, gardeners are more inclined to add them to the compost bin for future fertilizer. Some gardeners also like to re-plant their kitchen scraps.

Gardening boosts immune health

Believe it or not, gardening can also boost immune health. Experts maintain that there are beneficial bacteria in the soil that can help boost immune functions against infection and disease.

Gardening hones fine motor skills and muscles

Basic gardening tasks like digging and weeding train hand coordination and build hand strength. Basic gardening tasks like digging and raking train hand coordination and build hand strength.

It might not seem like such a big deal, but hand coordination and hand strength are crucial for basic tasks like opening jars or lifting packages. These tasks also help ease some of the tension on the hands due to prolonged use of smartphones or laptops.

It can make you happier

The act of caring for something green and something real can help boost feelings of happiness. Besides enhancing mood, gardening also teaches gardeners to be more hopeful, confident and optimistic.

Gardening offers opportunities to learn

Gardening is a constant learning experience. Even seasoned gardeners aren’t immune to stunted plants and pests from time to time. It also doesn’t hurt to learn different tricks and techniques from other gardeners.

As mundane as it might seem, gardening offers a host of incredible health benefits to those determined to see it through.

You also don’t need a large outdoor space or gardening experience to start a garden. Start small and take care of potted herbs or containers of salad greens and go from there.

If done right, you’ll be reaping more than just fresh food after a couple of months.

Sources:

TheHealthy.com

AJPH.APHAPublications.org