Aside from making our house look good, gardening can also do wonders on our overall health and wellness. This activity, which involves digging, planting, and weeding simply contributes to a healthy weight and blood pressure levels, as well as improved mood and lowered risk of various diseases.
Below are some ways our garden beds benefit our body.
Helps Reduce Stress
Gardening was found to be able to help lower a person’s stress level. In a 2017 meta-analysis in Preventive Medicine Reports that looked at 22 different case studies, it was found that gardening is positively correlated with a reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms. According to the study, people who were in the garden showed lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
May Help Lower Blood Pressure Levels
We can prevent and control high blood pressure by simply having 30-minute of moderate-level physical activities. According to The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, one of the best activities that we can do to hit the recommended amount is by gardening or raking leaves for 30-45 minutes.
Healthy Bones
Being outdoor exposes our skin to the sun. A 2014 Italian study, published on the National Institutes of Health website, found that exposure to sunlight helped older adults achieve adequate serum vitamin D levels. This vitamin helps our body absorb calcium, a mineral essential for bone formation, and in the immune system.
Makes Us Happier
Gardening may change our outlook in life. Simply the act of growing plants boosts our mood. A 2017 meta-analysis had linked gardening with reductions in mood disturbance and increases in quality of life.
Promotes Weight Loss
Gardening is considered to be an effective way of losing weight. Doing gardening (pulling weeds, reaching for various plants and tools, and twisting and bending) an hour can help us burn 330 calories which is more than going for a walk for the same amount of time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Cuts Down The Risk Of Chronic Diseases
Growing our own vegetable garden means having a fresh, pesticide-free, and healthy produce. This also helps us have the habit of eating enough fruits and vegetables. By simply plucking them from our garden, we will be able to reduce our risk of developing chronic diseases.
