Cats can work out mathematically the exact place to sit that will cause most inconvenience. ~Pam Brown
5 BENEFITS OF GARDENING
NONE OF WHICH
INVOLVE CATS
- Gardening Relieves Stress
We all have ways of decompressing after a stressful day. If you thought watching TV or curling up with a good book is a great way to reduce stress, you might be surprised to learn that a 2011 study from the Netherlands¹ showed that Gardening beat reading as a stress reliever. According to the Journal of Health Psychology, 30 minutes of gardening lead to a greater reduction of stress hormone (cortisol) than did 30 minutes of reading. Gardening also increased a ‘positive mood’, where reading did not.
- Exposure to Sunlight Increases Vitamin D levels
Your mother always told you to get more fresh air but she probably wasn’t aware of the myriad benefits of sunshine and vitamin D. We now know that adequate vitamin D levels are paramount to help prevent cancer, diabetes, depression and more. The amount of vitamin D you absorb depends on how much skin is exposed, the time of day, the color of your skin and where you live. The Vitamin D Council suggests “You only need to expose your skin for around half the time it takes for your skin to turn pink and begin to burn.”² Doing some gardening in short sleeves before applying sunscreen can help increase your vitamin D levels.
- Gardening Tasks Can Increase Fitness
The movements associated with gardening, like digging, planting and weeding require stretching and strength yet are low impact and can be done at an enjoyable pace. Since gardening is goal oriented, many people find it easier to motivate themselves for the prize of a luscious tomato than for the abstract notion of improving blood flow or improving one’s grip.
- Gardening Can Lower Your Risk of Dementia
An online article by CNN suggest that the physical activity needed for gardening can reduce one’s risk of dementia:
Two separate studies that followed people in their 60s and 70s for up to 16 years found, respectively, that those who gardened regularly had a 36% and 47% lower risk of dementia than non-gardeners, even when a range of other health factors were taken into account.
These findings are hardly definitive, but they suggest that the combination of physical and mental activity involved in gardening may have a positive influence on the mind.³
- Gardening is a family activity
Gardening is a great way to spend time with children and give them an appreciation for nature. Gardening helps children stay active, improve coordination and develop a work ethic. You don’t have to read studies to understand that children are happy exploring the outdoors. Moreover, growing vegetables with your family can improve their diet, decrease obesity and increase their appreciation for whole natural foods.
WHAT’S IN YOUR GARDEN?
1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20522508
2. http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/about-vitamin-d/how-do-i-get-the-vitamin-d-my-body-needs/#
3. http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/07/08/why.gardening.good/