Study Shows Regular Gardening Can Have Health Benefits
A recent study has revealed that gardening on a regular basis can have both physical and mental benefits to your health.
The study was conducted over a long 11 eleven year period and involved researchers from China, Texas and North Carolina. Around 90,000 participants were used over the eleven years to collect the data and the results were positive.
Gardening was proven to be just as good for you as going to the gym but more enjoyable. Spending just 10 to 59 minutes a week pottering around in your garden can drastically improve your physical and mental health.
Gardening can decrease depression, anxiety, and body mass index, as well as increase your quality of life, life satisfaction, and sense of community.
Benefits Of Gardening
1. You’ll Sleep Better
Research shows that gentle gardening can help you sleep better which can have a positive effect on your health.
2. Creates A Healthier Heart
Gardening is a form of exercise which burns off calories and leads to a healthier heart.
3. Reduces Stress
Research shows that spending 30 minutes working in your garden can lower cortisol levels which is the hormone associated with stress. So next time you are feeling stressed go and spend some time tending to your garden.
3. Makes You Happy
There is actually a scientific reason why gardening makes you happy. There is a bacteria in the soil called M. vaccae, which when inhaled increases levels of serotonin and reduces anxiety. You are breathing M. vaccae just by taking a stroll around your garden so it`s could to spend more time outdoors.
4. Strengthens Your Hands
Gardening is very manual work so all that digging and planting is a good way to keep your hands strong. Pulling out a few weeds now and again can also increase your hand strength.
5. Makes You Feel Proud
After a hard few hours work in the gardening you stand back and look at what you have achieved. Nothing makes you feel prouder than to see your hard work pay off and your garden transform into a little peace of heaven.
6. Can Reduce The Risk Of Dementia
A long-term study which involved around three thousand older adults revealed a 47% reduced risk of getting dementia when doing regular gardening. It is believed that this huge risk reduction is because gardening involves so many of our critical functions, such as strength, endurance, dexterity, learning, problem solving, and sensory awareness, that it benefits much larger than we realize.
How often do you do gardening and are you going to do more after reading this article?
