In fact, a positive association with gardening was observed for a wide range of health outcomes, such as reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, stress, mood disorders and BMI, as well as increasing quality of life, sense of community, levels of physical activity and function cognitive. Many want to unmask and socialize, but fear COVID-19 infection. First of all, being in nature makes you happier. Gardening has also been shown to improve mood, stabilize feelings of anxiety and depression, and generally reduce feelings of stress and stress incidents.
Gardening can fill a person with a sense of purpose and accomplishment, and it's a very high reward. In addition, being in nature, we tend to feel more of a connection with our spirituality. Gardening allows you to get out in the fresh air and in the sun, and it also makes your blood move. Not only can gardening be an effective way to exercise, it can also benefit your mental health.
Spending Time Away Can Help Reduce Depression, Anger, and Stress. In addition, gardening is good for you, as it can help reduce the risk of diseases such as strokes and osteoporosis, as well as improve your immune system. Why does gardening seem to be so beneficial to health? Combines physical activity with social interaction and exposure to nature and sunlight. Sunlight lowers blood pressure and increases vitamin D levels in summer,42 and the fruits and vegetables that are produced have a positive impact on the diet.
Working in the garden restores dexterity and strength, and the aerobic exercise involved can easily consume the same amount of calories as would be spent in a gym. Digging, raking, and mowing lawns are particularly calorie-intensive; 43 there's a gym outside many windows. Social interaction provided by community and therapeutic garden projects for people with learning disabilities and poor mental health can counteract social isolation. In addition, it has also been reported that the social benefits of these projects may delay symptoms of dementia44 (an effect that could be partly due to the beneficial effects of exercise).
Patients recovering from myocardial infarction or stroke find that exercising in a garden, using paretic limb restriction therapy, for example45 is more effective, enjoyable and sustainable than therapy in formal exercise settings. For some patients, gardening can even lead to employment. There are also successful plans involving volunteers to help seniors who cannot manage their gardens, and both the volunteer and the owner benefit from social interaction and products and a shared interest. Our horticultural therapists design gardening programs that are tailored to people's needs, working with them to set goals that improve their health and well-being.
We call this process social and therapeutic horticulture (STH). You know that plants need sunlight, but did you know that your body needs it too? Like other outdoor leisure activities, gardening can provide a double dose of healthy exercise and sun exposure. A moderate amount of time in the sun is the most effective way to get vitamin D, which influences more than 1000 different genes and almost every tissue in the body and impacts everything from metabolism to the immune system. Vitamin D Linked to Positive Effects in Type 2 Diabetes, Heart Disease, Bone Health, and Depression.
The gut can also feel the benefits, because vitamin D is thought to help regulate gastrointestinal distress. Of course, it's important to remember to take precautions to safely spend time in the sun. When researchers analyzed the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in their bodies, they found that the gardening group had recovered from stress better than the reading group. In fact, an Australian study found that gardening “is more effective than walking, educating yourself or keeping alcohol consumption at moderate levels to protect against dementia.
Not only does gardening reduce the risk of dementia; it also reduces the risk of many other health complications and can also do wonders for your mental health. Which could be a perfect solution for those who don't want to go to the gym, making gardening an ideal exercise for those who prefer low-intensity workouts. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention classifies gardening as moderate physical activity and notes that it can burn more than 300 calories per hour, about the same as playing golf while walking and carrying clubs. Gardening has more direct benefits in spaces such as community gardens, where social bonds and support networks can be formed.
So, by gardening regularly, you will engage in repetitive tasks that can ensure that all major muscle groups are getting a good workout. According to UNC Health Internal Physician Robert Hutchins, MD, MPH, who told Health Talk: “There are physical benefits to doing manual gardening work. Perhaps on the simplest level, gardening is a practical hobby that gives you something to look forward to. Gardening invites you to go out, interact with other gardeners, and take care of your own need for exercise, healthy food, and a beautiful environment.
Stone gardens, orchards, ornamental landscapes with waterfalls and ponds, each cultivated to claim territorial and cultural identity. Having a living being to care for, such as the plants in your garden, gives us a sense of responsibility. . .
