The health benefits of gardening
Gardening can be beneficial to both
our physical health and our mental health. Did you know that it can have a
beneficial effect on depressive symptoms?
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The health benefits of gardening are
manifold.
The beauty of the result, the joy of
connecting with nature, growing our own food when possible. And of course,
the relaxation that the process implies.
That is why it tops the lists
of favorite hobbies in most of the world. Today it is practiced
in many homes and by different classes of people.
Throughout the centuries, gardens of
all varieties have been considered places of tranquility and peace. In
them, you can escape reflecting. This has given rise to the concept
of horticultural therapy, which has been growing in
popularity today.
What is horticultural therapy?
According to the Canadian
Horticultural Therapy Association ( CHTA ), "Horticultural therapy uses plants and the
natural world to enhance the social, spiritual, physical, and emotional the well-being of the people who participate in it."
According to an article published in 2017, although it is considered
an appropriate and complementary therapy to treat a variety of conditions, more
research is still needed to determine its benefits.
But they are not the only benefits of gardening, here are some more.
They promote well-being
It's hard not to enjoy life when
you're surrounded by flowers, vegetables, and all the wildlife they
attract. Plus, science now backs it up.
Researchers at Loyola Marymount University in California conducted
an investigation into this. They investigated a municipal gardening
program in Australia, in which participants could be seen to describe
experiential and social wellness benefits. In addition, the
participants also experienced strengthened connections with nature, place, and
community.
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Lowers the risk of osteoporosis
Gardening, along with all the
physical activity that it requires, leads to weight loss.
Improves overall physical health, helping to strengthen your
bones as well.
Researchers at the University of Arkansas conducted a study of
3,310 older women and found that those who participated in gardening had
lower rates of osteoporosis than those who were or were athletes,
swimmers and aerobics practitioners.
This probably has to do with the
fact that gardening is akin to weight training. Pulling
or pulling weeds, digging holes, or carrying heavy things (soil, Abobo, pots) strengthens us.
Lowers the risk of diabetes
One of the main components of
managing diabetes properly is getting enough physical exercise.
A Kansas State
University study found that those gardeners who were active
got 150 minutes of exercise per week (more than the
recommended amount).
If you use your garden to grow your
own food, you will have, in addition to exercise, another diabetes control
tool at your disposal. Fresh and organic products! The research
also mentions that diabetes rates are lower in areas with community
gardens.
Beneficial for mental health
The mental health benefits
of gardening are so strong that it can help people with mental
health issues cope with their conditions.
According to a study published in 2013 in the Mental Health Review
Journal, gardening would be able to reduce symptoms of anxiety and
depression.
Relieves
tension and stress
A study carried out by researchers from the Netherlands in 2010 concluded
that gardening can combat stress. Even better than other
relaxing leisure activities.
During the study, two groups of
people performed a stressful task. Afterward, one group was instructed to
practice reading indoors and the other to garden outdoors for 30
minutes. The result reported that the gardening group had a better mood
and lower levels of the stress hormone (cortisol) than the
reading group.
The sights smell and the sounds of the garden promote relaxation and reduce stress.
Helps
fight depression
Effortless attention to gardening
can even help improve symptoms of depression.
In a study conducted in Norway, people who had been
diagnosed with depression, persistent low mood or "bipolar II
disorder" spent six hours a week growing flowers and vegetables.
After three months, half of the
participants had experienced considerable improvement in their
depression symptoms. In addition to this, her mood continued to improve
three months after the gardening program ended.
Get
better and more delicious nutrition
Food that you grow yourself is the
freshest food you can get. Most home gardens are full of fruits
and vegetables. The healthiest foods!
Keep reading: Improve your mental health with these 8 tips
All
you need is a simple garden
You don't need a big backyard or a
green space to benefit from gardening. If you have very little space or
experience, you can start with just a few plants. Well inside your
home or in containers.
For example, to grow a delicious
cherry tomato crop, you only need a bucket with holes in the bottom.
The main objectives and benefits of
gardening, in addition to promoting your health, is to express your creativity
through plant life, try new things, and obtain a
meaningful achievement for your efforts.
They can also offer you fresh
and healthy food. And the joy of seeing the plants nurture and
flourish, creating a wildlife space in your home.
The longer you spend in your garden,
the more you will realize how much gardening benefits you can
get. Starting with your body and extending to your mental health and creative capacity all the way to your soul.
Images courtesy of Jorge Zapico and
Green Explorer
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