Why Gardening is So Healthy
By Sara Butler
People love to garden because it makes their yard look nice, but the truth is that it does a lot more for you than that. There are several benefits to your health that gardening can provide. So, the next time you sink your hands into the dirt or pull a few weeds, know that you're providing yourself with a few incredible health benefits.
It's a Great Workout
Most people enjoy working in their garden because they feel as if they're accomplishing something. It's an activity that yields immediate results for your landscaping but also has long-term results for your health. That's because gardening is a workout -- even if it doesn't necessarily feel like one. After a while, carrying all those bags of mulch, picking weeds, shoveling, pushing a mower, or doing a variety of other tasks is a whole-body workout. And because it's an activity with a goal, it encourages you to do it for longer than you would a workout for the sake of a workout. That makes it a good workout for people who don't enjoy regular sweat sessions at the gym.
It's Good for Your Mind
Working with plants has been found to be an excellent way to relieve stress and reinforce positive sensory stimulation -- according to a 2016 study by NASA. Astronauts regularly attend to plants in space for their mental health. Research has found that attending to plants even if it's just a small one, can ease stress and boost your mood.
It Instills a Love of Vegetables
Studies have shown that growing your own vegetables helps to shift how people feel about eating them -- and not just for adults. If you can rope your children into helping you tend a garden and grow a few things, then it can instill in them a love of gardening and vegetables that can stick with them for their entire lives.
It's Good for the Planet
Your energy-efficient appliances and recycling are good for the planet, but gardening can also be good for the planet, especially on a local level. If you work to cultivate plants native to your area, then it's great for the local environment. Also, growing your own vegetables and fruits is a great way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions overall. It's positive for the planet!
Go ahead, go crazy in your garden -- just do it in a way that keeps your health and safety in mind.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Woodland Hills, Calif.