Regular gardening and planting offers opportunities for physical activity which can ultimately be beneficial to the health and well-being of the individual involved in the activity.
Aside the case of community gardens, which allows for socialization, gardening offers a variety of health benefits in addition to providing nutritious veggies and fruits for your dinner table and beautiful flowers to decorate it.
Listed below are five unavoidable health benefits of engaging in regular planting and gardening.
1. Exposure to vitamin D: Vitamin D increases your calcium levels, which benefits your bones and immune system. Outdoor activities like gardening are a perfect way to get your sunshine while pursuing a fun hobby.
READ ALSO: 20 Nigerian fashion designers selected for prestigious international visitors leadership program
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.
5. Helps combat loneliness:
After retirement, many people struggle with fewer socialization opportunities, and community gardens can be a fun way to engage with others while providing benefits to neighborhoods.
