Did you know that gardening helps you maintain physical and mental well-being? Those of us who regularly garden, intuitively know this. According to a fabulous article in Permaculture News, gardening has a myriad of health benefits. As I reflect on one of my 2017 resolutions to continue to focus on healthy lifestyle practices, I will continue to include gardening as one of my activities to help me get there. Now I will do so even more intentionally, realizing that there are more health benefits than I realized. Here are just a few of the health benefits and reasons we should all want a little gardening in our lives:
- Stress relief. A study conducted in the Netherlands demonstrated that those of us who spend time gardening can actually experience lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. We all know from our experience in our gardens that our gardens are places of calm, quiet, relaxation, restoration and reflection – all of which reduce stress.
- Exercise. Depending upon your level of your exercise in the garden, you can get some decent exercise. Even light garden exercise provides adequate moderate exercise to keep older adults in shape, according to studies referenced in Permaculture News. At a minimum gardening provides movement, which is a big improvement over sitting at our desks.
- Nutrition. Consuming more fruits and vegetables that we grow in our local gardens provides some of the healthiest foods we can have in our diets.
Healing. There is strong evidence that nature heals. I am reminded of the great work that Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island (visited earlier this year with the Garden Conservancy) is doing in this domain. Those of us who have spent time in our gardens and in nature, know this to be true.
- Immunity boosting. Exposure to the soil bacteria Mycrobacerium vaccae has been shown to significantly boost our immune system. This is an argument for not wearing gardening gloves!
- Brain health. Gardening has been shown to have numerous positive benefits for brain health. 1) Gardening and contact with Mycrobacerium vaccae in the soil may not only boosts our immune systems, but boosts serotonin as well, which elevates our mood. 2) Gardeners and those connected with nature in general have more of a positive mental outlook. 3) There is evidence of less dementia in seniors because gardening requires thinking, learning and using creativity.
Consider amping up the time you spend in your garden in 2017 to capitalize on all of these health benefits and have one of your happiest and healthy years possible.
