Gardening has become a very popular pastime. People have come to enjoy tending and cultivating gardens full of beautiful flowers and tasty vegetables. With the increasing discoveries of the negative impact of pesticides on crops and the overload of processed foods on store shelves, it is no surprise that growing your own food has become a trend.
The health benefits of this activity are almost countless. Let’s dig in on why you need to incorporate gardening in your life.
Say Bye to Stress and Hello to Happiness
Gardening literally makes you happier. Studies show that gardening lowers stress. What is even more surprising is that it can be more beneficial for lowering stress levels than quiet reflective time such as reading. How about those apples? We all know that looking at flowers brings good vibes and feelings. Now we know the sense of accomplishment at growing your own food does too.
Imagine all the good feels we can gain from digging in the dirt. Grab your garden gloves, it’s time to garden for happiness.
Eat Better
People who garden are more likely to eat more fruits and vegetables. The first beet I peeled and steamed from my own farm fresh garden was so exciting for me. The taste is incomparable to foods purchased at the grocery store. The flavor of a fresh strawberry is so much sweeter grown in your own soil, than a basket of them purchased at the store. When you garden, your plate becomes more abundant with colorful fruits and vegetables. Who doesn’t want a happy plate? Food is fuel for the body. What are you putting in your gas tank?
Studies also show that kids who grow up with parents who garden eat more fruits and vegetables later in life. Grow healthier kids by gardening at home.
Weigh Less
Gardening is good exercise. An hour of pulling weeds and planting flowers or veggies can burn around 200 to 400 calories. More strenuous outdoor gardening activities such as moving dirt or landscaping burns from 400 to 600 calories per hour. When I prep my gardens in the early spring and hoe my rows of corn and use my tiller to turn the earth, I burn over a thousand calories. I may look a hot mess while doing so, but I feel SO much fulfillment and gratification at the end of the day.
A study in the American Journal of Public Health found that gardeners are a healthier body weight! Say what?! It is true, friends. They found that the average woman who gardens weigh 11 pounds less than those who don’t, which is fantastic news. Men who garden also typically weigh 16 pounds less than men who do not wear garden gloves. Any extra movement burns calories, so it is not surprising that the exercise of gardening has an impact on weight.
Good Exercise for Seniors
A common complaint for the elderly is pain in their hands and stiffness.
Research has found that gardening helps seniors with strength and dexterity in their hands. Gardening improves hand function. If you struggle with inflammation in your hands check out my blog on anti-inflammatory foods.
Another awesome benefit discovered is that gardening can improve the quality of life for those with dementia. From pain reduction and less agitation to less detrimental falls, the positive influence gardening has on seniors is massive.
What this means is that gardening is a healthy alternative for the elderly who cannot perform other exercises. It lowers stress levels and the ambience brings greater joy. Just 30 minutes a day is suggested for seniors for optimal health.
Live Longer
Hawaii has the longest life expectancy in the country. Dr. Brad Wilcox, a doctor whose work focuses on gerontology has been researching the life span of Okinawan and Japanese men in Hawaii. His goal is to understand how these Hawaiian men live to and well beyond a hundred years old. With a large amount of centenarian (100 years or older) people living in Hawaii. It is the perfect place for researchers to understand what promotes longevity. The project looks at diet, exercise, spiritual practices, and genetics. The Okinawans eat a diet high in purple sweet potatoes which are chock full of anthocyanin. Anthocyanin is known for fighting cancers and preventing heart disease. Turmeric and jasmine green tea are also prevalent in their diets. These are both staples at the farmhouse. Yogi Super Antioxidant Green Tea is fantastic and includes jasmine. Yogi brand also has a delicious turmeric chai tea as well. The benefits of Turmeric and Green Tea are amazing.
The most fun fact of the study was that gardening is one of theses Japanese and Okinawans daily activities. Gardening is a common thing among these oldest living people. Which means that gardening promotes longevity. We definitely need more gardening in our lives!
Soooo, keep your eyes peeled because this farmhouse fit chick will have Purple Sweet Potatoes in her garden next year. Every year, I have grown purple potatoes, but not purple sweet potatoes. How fun and exciting! Happy Dance All Over the Farmhouse. More reason to garden and grow things that fuel the body in the best way!
Increase Your Intelligence
Research has shown that gardening can make you smarter. The increased levels of serotonin you have while planting your flowers and veggies, actually increases your ability to learn. The good for you natural bacteria Mycobacterium Vaccae may even help enhance your ability to learn new things.
Boost Your Immunity
Playing in the dirt is actually good for your health. We have become a society with an environment around us that has become way too clean. With the overuse of hand sanitizers and antibacterial soaps we are fueling more autoimmune diseases and immune related illnesses such as allergies.
Soil has natural bacteria and microorganisms that are beneficial for building a strong immune system. Exposing yourself to nature by gardening is a great way to build your immunity.
Plus, the added bonus of daily gardening supplies much needed vitamin D. Vitamin D helps with the absorption of calcium, which means stronger bones too. However, don’t forget the sunscreen when you garden.
Improve your quality of life with gardening. There are so many easy to grow veggies for new beginners. Squashes, bush beans, peppers, beets, potatoes, and melons are some of the most simple to grow.
Flowers brighten even the darkest of days. Some of the least difficult for even the most greenest of thumbs are lillies, iris, impatiens, vincas, geraniums, and marigolds. These flowers will brighten up your life and provide low intensity exercise while maintaining your new oasis.
For indoor gardening, Golden Pothos plants not only improve indoor air quality, they are relatively simple to maintain. It is also one of the easiest plants to propagate. If a limb breaks off, pull all the lower leaves off and place the end of the limb in a glass of water, ensuring no leaves are in the water. Within days you will notice little white roots. Once the limb has a good root system, you can start a new plant! Plant your new Golden Pothos in a nutrient rich garden soil while making sure you have good drainage in your pot. Voila! So EASY.
My gardens bring me great joy from the first signs of Spring through late fall. My secret to successful gardening is using our local mushroom compost. Mushroom compost is often called “black gold” thanks to its dark color and amazing ability to improve garden soil.
Now that you have some advantageous reasons to garden, let’s get to it. Happy Gardening Friends!
Changing Lives Every Day,
~ Dawn
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