Hey there, viewers!
We know you’ve been told to stay indoors.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t stay on your property and tend to your garden.
I know plants are probably one of the last things on your mind, but gardening is just
one of the ways you can maintain order in your life.
Not to mention there are plenty of terrific health benefits.
Can gardening help you lose weight?
How about build muscle?
Can it actually improve your thinking?
Wait, how does gardening give you Vitamin D?
Let’s talk about 8 Ways Gardening Can Improve Your Health.
Exposure To Vitamin D
Working outside in your garden for extended periods of time will expose you to some much
needed Vitamin D intake.
Face it, you’ve been inside for too long, wasting the day away in front of a television.
If we’re ever going to get back to normal, we need to take baby steps and begin facing
the world.
Also known as the sunshine Vitamin, D does an assortment of great things for your health.
It assists in healthy bone promotion, regulation of insulin levels and supports your immune
system.
It can also reduce your risk of various cancers, as well as other illnesses.
It’s a healthy gold-mine!
Research from 2018 showed that Vitamin D could potentially protect people from the influenza
virus.
But further research is needed to confirm this.
Nevertheless, it’s important that people get the proper amount of Vitamin D. A deficiency
could result in loss of bone density and fractures.
It has also been linked to diabetes, high blood pressure and autoimmune conditions.
So how much Vitamin D is enough?
Well adults between 19 and 70 need over 600 IU’s…
That’s mathematical language “international units”.
But working under the sun for hours will give you much more than that.
It’s said that on a hot July day, just 4 minutes outside can produce 1000 IU’s of
Vitamin D.
While some time under the sun is good for you, make sure you have your sunscreen on.
The last thing you need during a pandemic is a killer sunburn.
Building Muscle
There are a lot of positive things people associate with gardening, but who figured
a muscular body was one of them?
Gardening on a regular basis can help tone your muscles.
It may seem crazy, but think about the workout you’re getting.
Gardening requires a lot of heavy lifting.
We’re talking flower pots, heavy plants and wheelbarrows full of dirt.
Some hauls can be over 100 pounds.
If you’re working in an awkward space, you’ll have to use muscles you’ve never used before
to crouch down low and do an efficient job.
This can be especially challenging if you haven’t exercised in a while.
So be sure to do your stretches beforehand.
If a gym membership is out of the question, an outdoor activity is your next best bet.
Experts are stating that a minimum of 30 minutes of gardening each session will allow you to
see results.
Keep in mind that you should try for a few sessions a week.
Aside from a great muscle workout, gardening provides another terrific exercise benefit….
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Weight Loss
Working in your garden can cause you to shed some major pounds.
Imagine the sweat you’ll work up being outside in the sun for all that time.
Studies show that women burn 135 calories every 30 minutes, while men burn 177.
This is during the planting phase of your gardening.
It includes activities like planting shrubs and trees.
If you’re doing other types of yard work, mowing the lawn is also a fantastic exercise.
Gardening serves as a great form of aerobics.
Most people associate aerobics with dance workouts and stretching over a mat.
But with gardening, you’re constantly repeating the same movement over and over again while
staying in one position.
For instance, digging and spading in your garden requires several different muscles
at once.
I’m talking about your upper body, back and legs.
If you’re doing this on the regular, it will help you cut weight while improving your
strength and endurance.
Fights Loneliness
When you think about gardening, you usually picture some lonely man or woman planting
flowers in their backyard.
Believe it or not, gardening is a great way to treat loneliness.
Particularly for older people.
Retired seniors often have trouble adapting to life after the workforce.
If they have been widowed, it’s twice as hard.
If they're stuck at home, their world gets smaller, giving them fewer opportunities to
socialize.
This is where community gardens come in.
Community gardens are spaces where people come together and socialize while maintaining
plants, as well as fruits and veggies.
This is a great way for older folks to get out and meet new people.
Community gardens have been shown to improve people’s quality of life through stimulating
social interactions.
Now since we’re trapped indoors, community gardens aren’t exactly an option.
But your elderly grandfather or neighbour could benefit from one in the future.
They make new friends while exploring a brand new hobby.
Fights Depression
Wait, what’s the difference between loneliness and depression?
Well just because you’re alone doesn’t mean you’re depressed.
There are plenty of people with others in their lives, and they’re still miserable.
Tending to various garden duties can make you a much happier person.
According to experts, gardening exposes you to various bacteria in the soil, which increases
your mood.
It has been compared to the high that runners get after a long haul, only with this activity,
you’re working in the comfort of your front yard.
Research has also indicated that gardening combats stress.
One study focused on subjects who did 30 minutes of gardening after completing a stressful
task.
In the end, their moods had shown improvement, with many of their blood tests exhibiting
lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.
So if running’s not your scene, gardening serves as an ideal alternative.
Who knew clipping tulips could make you feel so exhilarated?
Before we continue, are concerned about the overall state of your health?
Maybe you're trying to lose weight?
Check out our recent video listing Which Foods Are Good To Eat Before Bed.
Now back to our list of 8 Ways Gardening Can Improve Your Health.
Strengthens The Immune System
In times like these, the question of whether or not your immune system is healthy is becoming
more common.
Luckily gardening is useful in this area as well.
Experts have stated that spending time outside exposes your body to all sorts of strange
microorganisms.
These will build your immunity.
Did you know that just an inch of soil in your garden contains over 4 billion of these
microorganisms?
This includes bacteria, algae and fungi.
These microorganisms will enter our system just through quick inhalation.
They are what’s known as “biological tourists”.
A steady stream of biological tourists is one of the things your immune system depends
on.
As a result of constant gardening, your immune system improves, further preventing you from
sickness.
Improves Cognitive Function
Various research has pointed to gardening as an efficient tool against dementia.
In other words, gardening increases your level of cognitive function.
This is another reason older people should take part in this activity.
A study from 2006 focused on almost 3000 people over the age of 60, and kept track of them
for 16 years.
In the end, gardening was found to lower your risk of dementia by 36%.
Gardening improves the appetite of Alzheimer's patients.
It also boosts their level of energy and promotes better sleep.
Professionals who observe these patients have also noted lower levels of aggression, improved
social interaction, increased attention spans and a better sense of time.
Reduces Risk of Heart Disease
With all of these benefits, it's no wonder that regular gardening can improve the health
of your heart.
Anything that assists your heart can reduce your risk of getting a heart attack, lowering
your chances of death overall.
A recent study focused on 88,000 adults between the ages of 40 to 85 over the span of 11 years.
Researchers monitored their level of physical activity.
Gardening turned out to lower your risk of death by 18%.
If we’re getting specific, your risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases lowered
by 12%.
So not only can gardening get you in great shape both physically and mentally, it can
also save your life.
Do you enjoy gardening?
Would you consider it after watching this video?
Let us know in the comments below.
We would love to hear from you!