March 24

The Health Benefits of Gardening

Gardening is one of the most beneficial activities you can do for yourself, especially in terms of your health. The benefits that it can give you range from physical to social to mental and even developmental. By this, we mean that no matter your age or ability, you can reap something from gardening that will have a positive impact on your life.

Of course, not everyone has a garden, and so this leaves a lot of people thinking that they have to miss out on these wonderful benefits we have talked about. However, luckily for you, there are many ways to get around this hurdle, and even without a physical garden, there are still ways you can incorporate gardening into your life.

Netflix Mod APk

1.Introduction

In this article, we are going to be taking you through all of the benefits that you can reap from gardening, as well as examining the reasons why gardening can be so beneficial. We will be doing this through the use of some leading research that has been done on gardening, from many different avenues.

For example, it is pertinent to get scientific perspectives, as well as perspectives from psychologists and wellness therapists. We will also be exploring how you can garden even if you don’t have a garden yourself, showing you ways you can incorporate this beneficial practice into your life. One thing is for sure, and that is that gardening is truly for everyone!

So, if you are thinking about taking up gardening, and wondered what sort of health benefits you can expect to reap from this activity, then this is the article for you!

Why Is Gardening Good For You

2.Why is Gardening Good For You

As we mentioned in the introduction, gardening is a fantastic hobby for any individual to take up, no matter their age or ability. We know what you may be thinking… elderly people may struggle, and so might many people with prohibiting disabilities. 

However, we are here to tell you that there are so many ways that gardening can be adapted to suit everyone’s needs. It is not an exclusive activity that can only be undertaken by able-bodied people. There are many adaptations that can be made to accommodate anybody who wants to take part. 

In this section of the article, we want to draw your attention to two very different groups of people in particular. Gardening has had an immensely positive impact on elderly people and recovering addicts alike. 

These two very different groups have, understandably, got very different needs. However, as we have stated, gardening is inclusive, and there are many ways that people from both of these groups can take part in gardening in fun, safe, and healthy ways. Keep on reading to find out more. 

Good for Recovering Addicts

1.Good for Recovering Addicts

The first of these two groups that we wanted to talk about is that of recovering addicts.

By ‘recovering addicts’, we mean people who were once addicted to alcohol and drugs.

Working with plants, whether in a garden setting or indoors, has long been an important factor in many programs for recovery from addiction. 

In fact, there have been numerous studies done on the impact of gardening on these people, with one study identifying that being around plants helps to foster positive feelings in recovering people, as well as aiding them in rehabilitation. 

Indeed, there is a whole branch of therapy known as horticultural therapy, and it is utilized by many people, not just recovering addicts. That being said, it is amongst these people that it seems to have the most positive effect. 

Another study indicated that, when recoverers on a natural therapy program were asked to choose between art or gardening, those that undertook gardening reported a more positive overall experience with their recovery program compared with those that chose art. 

The reasons why gardening seems to work so well for recovering addicts could lie in the fact that gardening is an act that can significantly reduce stress. When done outside, you get the benefit of fresh air, vitamin D from the sun, and the joys of being out in nature. 

Of course, we must state here that it is unlikely that gardening alone will help someone combat drug and alcohol addiction, and it is by no means something that we are recommending. What we mean is that, when used alongside a program set out by a trusted medical professional, gardening as therapy can play an important part in a person’s recovery. 

Good for Elderly

2.Good for Elderly

As well as helping out recovering addicts, gardening can also have an extremely positive impact on the elderly.

From health benefits to social benefits, gardening can provide a crutch for the elderly at a time where they can’t do many of the things they used to enjoy doing. 

What we mean by this is that gardening is accessible, and no matter what health issues an elderly person has, there will be at least some aspect of gardening that they can partake in.

To begin with, we want to demonstrate what sort of activities an elderly person can do in the garden.

No matter their ability, there will be something in our list that they can enjoy: 

  • Water flowers (this can even be done from a sitting position, making it ideal for wheelchair users) 
  • Plant seeds (provided their mobility allows them)
  • Help to gather vegetables and fruit 
  • Plan the layout of the garden 
  • Prune bushes and trees
  • Take part in raking and lawn mowing if their mobility allows for it

Of course, these activities are not exhaustive, and there are certainly many more that elderly people can take part in. These were the activities that we have found through research that are most popular with elderly people, most of which can be easily adapted to suit physical and mental needs. 

Gardening can be done alongside other people if you seek out community gardens, gardening clubs, and allotments. This means that elderly people will have direct contact with other people who also enjoy gardening.

As well as this, it will improve their social skills, giving them better opportunities to make new acquaintances. This is especially important for elderly people who may suffer from loneliness. 

As well as the social aspects associated with gardening, we cannot forget the health benefits that have been proven to be caused by gardening. Gardening is, to some extent, quite a physical activity. 

Of course, as we have mentioned, it can be adapted to the needs of everyone, and so for some people, there may be less physical activity. However, in general, gardening is classed as moderate exercise.

This is because it involves lots of digging, crouching, raking, lawn mowing, and many other physical activities. In turn, this has tremendous effects on aspects of your health such as your blood pressure, heart health, and even muscle strengthening. 

As if these physical and social benefits weren’t enough, there is also much in the way of evidence to suggest that gardening can actually help boost memory in older people. We have known for many years that exercise can help cognitive function, but more recent research suggests that gardening also has the same effect. 

It is thought that gardening for just a short amount of time can actually help to spur on the growth of nerves in your brain that relates to memory. This can, in turn, improve a person’s memory. Now, we are not going to sit here and promise that it can cure dementia. Sadly, it’s far from it.

However, because of the positive effects, it can have on a person, there is certainly evidence to suggest that it can be an effective treatment, perhaps for slowing down the impact of these memory related diseases, or by lessening the impact of them on a person. 

In support of this, there was a study done in Korea that concluded that just around 20 minutes of gardening can increase nerve growth in the brain in both males and females. These nerves are, unsurprisingly, related to memory. 

Of course, then there is the factor of mental health. As we will discuss later on in the article, gardening has a major impact on the reduction of mental health related issues and illnesses. It can positively reduce issues such as depression and loneliness.

Knowing this, and knowing that elderly people are vulnerable to these issues, it is no surprise that gardens are often incorporated into programs to help the elderly. 

Health Benefits of Gardening

health benefits of gardening

Natural Destresser

3.Natural Distresser

As we have mentioned earlier in the article in our section on the impact of gardening on the elderly and recovering addicts, gardening can have a really impressive impact on a person’s stress levels.

In this section, we really want to pick this apart and examine the reasons why it has such a positive impact on stress. 

There was a study conducted in the Journal of Health Psychology that stated that if you participate in gardening right after a stressful event has occurred, then you are less likely to be stressed for a longer period of time.

Just like a run can help to dissipate tension and anxiety, gardening is thought to have the same effect on stress. 

The evidence of this was the recording of cortisol levels from the saliva of people who had been purposely put through a stressful task and then allowed to do a gardening activity for 30 minutes after the stressful task.

The cortisol levels and self-reported mood told researchers that these people were far less stressed than they had been before the gardening took place. 

Lowers Blood Pressure

4.Lowers Blood Pressure

We have discussed the fact that gardening can help to significantly lower blood pressure a number of times already. However, it is such an important point that we feel that it is vital to discuss it in more detail.

Any form of exercise is going to have a positive impact on your blood pressure, especially if you have moderate to high blood pressure already – anything you can do to bring it down is a good thing. 

As we mentioned at risk groups like the elderly and people who are recovering from addiction may find that gardening gives them the gentle boost of exercise they need (or, more intense exercise if they want to turn it up a notch and start digging and raking).

These groups are also high-risk groups for high blood pressure, and so it is not surprising to find that gardening helps them so much. In order to look more closely at the way gardening can help to lower your blood pressure, we think the best way to do so is to demonstrate it in a list: 

  • The exercise involved in gardening gets your blood flowing
  • Gardening reduces stress, and so it will also reduce blood pressure (high stress equals high blood pressure!
  • Promotes an overall healthier lifestyle
  • It encourages the consumption of homegrown vegetables and fruits, which can help to reduce your blood pressure (research has shown time and time again that vegetables are vital in a diet that aims to reduce blood pressure)
  • It can be done anywhere and at any time, meaning lowering your blood pressure is not limited – whether it’s winter or summer, there will always be some way to participate, giving you a long term solution to lowering blood pressure

Of course, we want to inform you that gardening alone may not be a suitable cure for your high blood pressure, and before undertaking any form of strenuous physical activity you should always consult a doctor (or whoever provides your healthcare) to check that it is suitable for you.

Likewise, gardening cannot replace medicine, and so if you have been prescribed blood pressure medicine, then you should carry on taking it alongside gardening. 

Being in Nature is Good for Mental Health

5.Being in Nature is Good for Mental Health

Nature has long since been hailed as the best natural ‘anti-depressants’ there is, and there are certainly many studies that have been done that can be seen to support this.

Time and time again, gardening has been positively correlated and cited as a contributing factor in the reduction of anxiety and depression.

In fact, it has been theorized that having a daily dose of nature can have a deep impact on mental health issues such as anxiety. As well as this, we all know how important vitamin D is for our bodies.

Vitamin D from the sun can play a major role in helping to combat depression, as well as Seasonal Affective Disorder, and even schizophrenia.

This is especially true of people who are already in the high-risk groups for having a vitamin D deficiency such as obese individuals, diabetics, and the elderly. With this in mind, gardening outside on a sunny day is likely to have a positive impact on the mental health of these people. 

However, it is important to remember that gardening and nature alone are not replacements for medicine and professional help. If you are struggling with your mental health, please reach out to someone you trust and see a healthcare professional.

It is very important that you seek help for this. Gardening can be used alongside other methods of help in order to help you through tough times in your life. 

Prompts Weight Loss

6.Prompts Weight Loss

As we mentioned in an earlier section, gardening is known as a moderate level exercise.

As we all know, exercise is one of the major contributing factors in a healthy lifestyle, and it is the activity that is cited most often (alongside diet) as having the biggest impact on weight loss. 

What we mean by this is that if you want to lose weight, then you should certainly consider exercising.

Now, not everyone enjoys exercising. In fact, there are some people that can’t exercise. This is where gardening comes in.

As a moderate level exercise that can be adapted to the needs of most people, it presents people with an accessible, and enjoyable form of exercise. 

The physical benefits it can give you involve the building of strength in your bones and muscles, and promoting a healthy sleep at night. All of these factors can contribute to maintaining a healthy weight.

As well as this, if you do some of the more intense activities associated with gardening such as chopping wood, shoveling, and even digging, then the level of exercise moves from moderate to vigorous. Trust us, it will feel the same as a whole body workout at the gym! 

Encourages You to Eat Healthily and Grow Your Own Produce

7.Encourages You to Eat Healthily and Grow Your Own Produce

As well as the wonderful exercise related benefits you can reap from gardening, there is also the fact that it encourages a person to grow their own produce.

This will, in turn, help to keep a person healthier. After all, it’s not like we can grow a burger and fries, is it? All of the products that can be grown in a garden will be fruit or vegetables. 

There is nothing quite like the feeling of eating something that you have grown yourself, knowing that you have taken the time to grow it, avoided harsh chemicals and quick-growth formulas, and picked it fresh that day really makes it taste better. 

As well as this, it also encourages children to eat their veggies!

They will be far more likely to eat broccoli if they have helped you grow it rather than buying it at the store. In turn, this can help to stave off childhood obesity and its related issues. 

There are many different vegetables and fruits that you can grow in your garden that will have immense effects on your health. To help you work out what sort of yummy foods you can grow and what they may be good for, we want to show you in the form of a table.

That way, you can look through to find your favorite fruit or vegetable, and see what amazing benefits you can reap from it. 

Bell peppersTomatoCucumberCarrotOnionsBeetrootBlackberryRaspberry 
Health benefitsGreat source of vitamins C and A. Contain lycopene which has been linked to lowering the risk of heart diseases. Lowers blood sugar and very hydrating Great for eye health thanks to the vitamin A boosting beta carotene Anti inflammatoryHelps to control blood pressure Plenty of vitamin C and fiber to aid digestion and help the immune system Packed with antioxidants and help to lower blood sugar 

Of course, this list of veggies and fruits that you can grow in your garden is very short, and you can grow many more different types that will all have wonderful health benefits. We just think that these are some of the easiest foods for beginners to grow, and all are commonly used in everyday cooking anyway. 

Don’t forget, you can also grow a variety of tasty herbs in your garden with ease. Some of the most popular and easy to grow herbs include mint (all types), thyme, rosemary, lavender (sure, it’s a flower, but it can also be used for culinary purposes too), basil, chives, parsley, oregano, and lemon balm. 

How to Bring Gardening into Your Home

3.How to Bring Gardening into Your Home

Now that you know about all of the wonderful benefits you can reap from gardening, we are sure that you cannot wait to get started in your own garden. However, there may be some people reading this who feel that they can never reap these benefits because they don’t have a garden.

Of course, we have also given the suggestion that you could try to find an allotment or community garden. However, this too has its limits. For example, if you live in a city there may be no allotments near you that would be suitable. As well as this, you may not even have the funds to go to an allotment, as they tend to have a cost associated with them. 

With this in mind, the benefits associated with gardening can feel impossible if you do not have access to one. Fear not though, our gardening-obsessed pals, for we have the solution for you. There is a way for you to bring the garden into your home.

No, we don’t mean to tell you to rip up your carpet and palace a load of soil down. We simply mean that there are ways that you can incorporate gardening into your daily life and still yield the same health benefits. 

The first way you can do this is through house plants. Keep on reading to find out more about how house plants can transform your living space into your own little piece of garden. 

House Plants

8.House Plants

Having house plants will never feel quite as good as having your very own garden. However, they are certainly the next best thing, and with a little bit of creativity and determination, you can quickly reap some of the same benefits. 

Turns out, your Swiss cheese plant or flowering cactus may be good for more than just the aesthetics of your home.

There is an increasing interest in indoor gardening, perhaps due to the lifestyles that people (particularly young people) live today.

As house prices soar, and people get paid less, young people of today cannot afford the American Dream of days passed (a nice house, modest garden, and white picket fence).

Instead, people are existing in cramped apartments, often with housemates or even roommates, and barely a piece of green space for miles! 

Smaller houses, skyscraper-esqe apartment blocks, and city living mean that gardens are hard to come by. The main way around this for many people is to invest their time and energy into the cultivation of an indoor garden. Houseplants can provide many of the same benefits that outdoor plants can, just in a smaller space. 

Now, we are not going to kid you into thinking that you will be able to gain all the same physical benefits. House plants will not allow you to get the same level of exercise as being outside in an actual garden might.

Nor will you be able to have as much time out in the sun. However, indoor houseplants still yield some pretty special results that can have a wonderful impact on our health. 

Air purifiers 

One of the first health benefits of indoor gardening that we want to draw your attention to is that of air purifiers. No, we’re not talking about the latest fancy-pants contraption that promises to ‘clean your air’.

We’re talking about the good old fashioned greenery. There are some wonderful plants out there that do an amazing job of cleaning the air themselves, without the need for expensive air purifying systems. 

NASA (yes, that NASA) thoroughly researched the impact of plants in small spaces on toxins in the air. They found that, in small amounts, plants can rid the air of very harmful toxins such as those from formaldehyde and carbon monoxide.

This can, in turn, have wonderful benefits on our health such as reduction of headaches, better sleep, they can even help reduce issues relating to the throat and nose! There are many wonderful plants that absolutely ace being air purifiers, however, there are some that stand out above the rest. These are: 

  • Snake plant 
  • Money plant 
  • Gerbera
  • Spider plant 
  • English ivy 
  • Bamboo palm 
  • Dracaena
  • Sword fern
  • Devil’s ivy
  • Areca palm 
  • Boston fern
  • Variegated snake plant 
  • Chinese evergreen
  • Peace lily 
  • Garden mum
  • Rubber plants 
  • Chrysanthemum
  • …and much, much more!

As you can see, that is a long list, and that’s barely scratched the surface of the number of plants that can have positive benefits on your health. Some of these plants are easier to keep than others, whereas some require a lot of hands-on support such as propagation, cultivation, frequent watering, and repotting.

Depending on how green-fingered you are feeling and how much you want to try your hand at gardening, you may find some too much work, and others too easy to look after. 

That being said, in order to fully get these amazing health benefits, we highly recommend choosing an array of different plants from this plethora of choices. That way you will be able to gain even more health benefits, many of which we will discuss further down this section. 

Increased oxygen 

Another reason why indoor gardening is extremely beneficial for our health is because of what they do to the air we breathe. We all know that plants are great for us because they emit oxygen when they go through photosynthesis.

However, this process has most often been associated with outside plants, in particular, trees. Many people are surprised to find out that indoor plants have a similar process. 

Plants breathe in the opposite way to us. Whereas we dispel carbon dioxide and breathe in oxygen, plants take carbon dioxide out of the air and emit oxygen. This means that they remove the harmful carbon dioxide from the air that we breathe, replacing it with that all-important oxygen.

What this does for us is purify the air that we breathe. In terms of our health, this can have tremendous benefits, helping us to sleep better, improving cell reproduction, dissipating any breathing issues we may have had, and even helping to lower our stress.

Of course, all of these together can even help to lower your blood pressure and improve your overall lifestyle. 

Mental health 

Lastly, we want to discuss one of the non-physical health benefits of having an indoor garden. Like outdoor gardening, indoor houseplants and the keeping of them can have a really positive effect on a person’s mental health.

For example, there is proven evidence that suggests that being out in nature can help reduce depression and even seasonal affective disorder. But how about when you bring the outside in? Research suggests that the effects are similar, if not the same! 

The soil that is used for your houseplants is thought to release good bacteria that act as endorphins (fun fact, this bacteria has been dubbed ‘outdoor-phins), helping to reduce stress and anxiety.

This happens due to the release of cytokines which get converted to serotonin in your brain. This, in turn, has a really positive effect on your mental health, contributing to a positive outlook on life. 

Imagine how much more of these cytokines you can get from a plant if you are potting it yourself! That is the beauty of indoor gardening, you always seem to be propagating and repotting plants and cuttings, giving you plenty of opportunities to get your hands in the soil. 

As well as this, simply being around your house plants can also reduce stress as they have a calming effect on the mind and body. Sure, it’s not quite the same as being outdoors as you won’t be feeling the sun on your face, but it can be the next best thing.

Even better, if you have a balcony in your apartment, you can place some plants out there too, emulating the feel of an actual garden, even if it is merely a tiny space just big enough for yourself and one of two pots. 

Another thing about having a balcony, or even a particularly wide and sturdy window ledge, is that you can partake in growing outside plants, rather than merely indoor houseplants. One great way to go about this is to make a window ledge herb garden.

Many easy to grow herbs such as mint, lavender, basil, and thyme can be grown on a window ledge in your apartment (just ensure it is securely fastened to something so that it doesn’t fall off). As well as this, if you have a balcony with a little more room, you may even be able to grow flowers, greenery, and even veggies in pots.

Some easy veggies that will adjust well to balcony conditions include chili peppers, radishes, green onions, eggplants, and tomatoes.

As you know, growing your own veggies outdoors can contribute to many desired health benefits, and the same can be said for growing them on your balcony, too. They will encourage you to eat healthier, as well as giving you the reassurance that the vegetables you eat will be fresh and of good quality.

As well as this, there are many benefits to be gained from the simple act of looking after these plants, such as instilling feelings of hope and patience. 

Nature Programs

9.Nature Programmes

Another fantastic way of getting your daily dose of gardening when you don’t have a garden yourself is through nature programs. We get it, looking at a screen seems counter-productive.

However, nature programs on TV (or your favorite streaming platform) can be a really valuable resource, from giving you an inspiration to helping you inject some much needed nature into your life. 

Of course, we do not claim that this method will be anywhere near as beneficial as actually going into your garden or doing some indoor gardening.

However, what it can do for you is to motivate you into doing these things for yourself.

For example, watching a gardening program may inspire you to want to start working on your garden. Likewise, watching programs about nature will give you the same serene and calm feelings as looking at an actual garden will. 

In terms of nature shows, and even gardening specific shows, there are a plethora of choices. Here are some of our favorite nature programs: 

  • Gardeners’ World (BBC)
  • Gardening By The Yard (HGTV)
  • The City Gardener (HGTV)
  • Backyard Envy (Bravo)
  • Curb Appeal (HGTV)
  • Desperate Landscapes (DIY)
  • Love Your Garden (ITV, Netflix)
  • Big Dreams Small Spaces (BBC, Netflix) 

Of course, these titles are by no means an extensive list. We are sure you can all probably think of many more (in fact, we’d love to find out what other TV programs you can think of!). What we love most about all of the shows that we have listed is the fact that they all give us the most incredible inspiration to get gardening in our own yards.

Sometimes, we can be the most well-intentioned people and have all these grand plans to begin gardening in order to benefit our health, but actually, when it comes down to it, we may struggle to find the motivation to get up and get growing.

These nature programs are all full of inspiration and motivation, reminding the people who watch them just how much fun they can have out in the garden. They may also appeal to those who, for whatever reason, cannot go out into the garden or even bring gardening indoors, for example, because of allergies.

Whilst it is not the same as physical gardening, these nature programs can provide some solace for those desperately wanting to be around nature, or simply for anyone that enjoys learning about gardening and landscaping. 

Summary – Get Growing 

4.Summary - Get Growing!

To summarize, there are a plethora of health benefits related to gardening, all of which we have been able to gather here. The act of gardening can help benefit many people from all walks of life, whether old or young, a complete beginner, or a seasoned gardening professional, there are benefits to be achieved by everyone.

There are even ways to incorporate gardening into the lives of people who have undergone significant trauma in their lives, to help recovering addicts, and to help keep elderly people active when their health dwindles. 

As you will now know from our article, there are even ways to garden even if you don’t have a garden in your home – for example, people who live in an apartment could check for community gardens, rent an allotment, or even take up windowsill gardening. 

The physical health benefits such as the lowering of blood pressure, and the reduction of stress are immense, and it is of no surprise to us that gardening is often recommended by health care practitioners for a variety of ailments, illnesses, and conditions. 

What remains key is that gardening can be made accessible for absolutely anyone, and can even be done with some of the most basic tools, without the need for masses of expensive equipment. 

We hope that our article has opened your eyes to the pure joy of gardening, and above all, we hope that we have managed to convince you that gardening is indeed a worthwhile hobby. Now, what are you waiting for? Grab your seeds and shovel and get growing. 


Tags


You may also like

How Hot Does a Pressure Cooker Get?

How Hot Does a Pressure Cooker Get?
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}