By Stephanie Scott
f you want to make improvement to your stress levels and health, you might want to stop and smell the roses – literally. Recent research shows that spending time gardening does more than just add curb appeal to your home, it can provide major mental and physical health benefits.
Here are some of the biggest benefits from gardening:
Gardening burns calories.
Light to moderate gardening burns about 300 calories per hour. The calorie burn can help contribute to weight loss, especially if you undertake some more physically taxing jobs such as digging, carrying mulch, transporting plants, or installing garden features. Even lower-intensity gardening activities such as pruning and weeding have a positive impact on your heart rate and fitness.
Gardening relieves stress.
Getting outside in nature can have an instant positive effect on your mood. According to a 2019 study published by Frontiers in Psychology, just 20 to 30 minutes a day outside in nature has a remarkable impact on the production of our stress hormone cortisol. As you soak in the sun and hear the birds chirping and hold the soil in your hands, you are experiencing a powerful drop in stress hormones. Getting away from the buzz of technology and back to the sights and sounds of nature seems to have a restorative effect and provides you a place of calm and tranquility within your busy life.
Gardening can lower blood pressure.
The combination of the stress relief and the physical activity work together to help reduce blood pressure. High blood pressure places you at significantly higher risk for stroke or heart attack. A 2019 study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggested that regular light to moderate exercise can help to reduce and maintain positive blood pressure readings.
Gardening is a source of Vitamin D.
As we age, bone loss becomes an issue that many face. One of the best ways to increase bone health is increasing Vitamin D levels – and the good news is, getting out to garden does just that. Exposure to sunshine allows your body to generate greater amounts of Vitamin D, which can help your body in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, which creates stronger bones. Improved Vitamin D levels can reduce your risk of developing autoimmune disorders and some forms of bone and joint-related conditions.
From better mental health to lower blood pressure and a trimmer waistline, gardening is not just a home project that makes your home look more vibrant – it can help you feel that way, too.