If you wish to live long and prosper, consider these five health benefits of gardening that can help you reach those goals.
1. Exposure to vitamin D
Vitamin D increases your calcium levels, which benefits your bones and immune system. 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. So outdoor activities like gardening are a
perfect way to get your sunshine while pursuing a fun hobby. (But don’t
forget the sunscreen to protect your skin, and sunglasses for your
eyes.)
2. Decreased dementia risk
A 2006 study found that
gardening could lower risk of dementia by
36 percent. Researchers tracked more than 2,800 people over the age of
60 for 16 years and concluded that physical activity, particularly
gardening, could reduce the incidence of dementia in future years.
3. Mood-boosting benefits
A study in the Netherlands, cited by CNN, suggests that gardening
fights stress even better than other hobbies. Participants completed a
stressful task and were then told to read inside or go outdoors and
garden for 30 minutes. The gardening group reported better moods
afterward, and their blood tests showed lower levels of the stress
hormone cortisol.
4. Enjoyable aerobic exercise
Gardening is a great form of aerobic exercise;
plus, you might become so engrossed in your work that you don’t even
realize you’re breaking a sweat. Pulling weeds, reaching for various
plants and tools, and twisting and bending as you plant will work new
muscles in your body and help with strength, stamina, and flexibility.
5. Helps combat loneliness
Community gardens can be a fun way to engage with others while
providing benefits to neighborhoods. According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, community gardens are "collaborative
projects on shared open spaces where participants join together in the
maintenance and products of the garden, including healthful and
affordable fresh fruits and vegetables."
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