Gardening is quickly becoming a popular activity for hobbyists everywhere. And it should come as no surprise. After all, there’s something unique about planting a flower or veggie and watching it flourish under your care.
But what you might be less privy to are all of the ways that gardening can positively impact your health and well-being. Discover the incredible benefits of this gratifying hobby, and see why it’s the perfect activity for you and your family!
It Exposes You to the Gifts of Nature
The health and wellness benefits of gardening begin with exposure to nature’s great gifts. More specifically, gardening is scientifically proven to strengthen our bones and immune systems. How? Well, spending more time outside means that you’re getting more sun. As we all know, sunlight is one of the best ways to increase vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D helps our bodies absorb calcium, which strengthens bones. Plus, it has immune-boosting qualities. These facts alone make gardening one of the healthiest hobbies out there. This is especially true if you and your kiddos have an aversion to milk or fish. Of course, it’s just as healthful if you’re looking for a fun way to spend time with your family outside.
It Boosts Your Mood and Lowers Blood Pressure
Studies show that gardening can reduce anxiety, depression, and overall stress. In other words, it’s an excellent mood-booster. This is because taking care of something and watching it succeed can give people a sense of control when they might otherwise feel helpless.
As a result, starting a garden builds healthy coping mechanisms that increase our levels of self-confidence, value, and—inherently—the way we care for ourselves. Plus, it can lower your blood pressure. When you consider the impact these benefits can have on your life as a whole, the health and wellness benefits of gardening should be evident.
It Provides an Opportunity for Enjoyable Exercise
We can’t relay all the healthful benefits of gardening without mentioning that tending to plants and trees is excellent exercise. No, it’s not quite the same as hitting the elliptical for an hour every day, but it does require quite a bit of effort and aerobic movement. Even venturing out into the yard with your little ones and scouting out an ideal place to plant a new tree can be a perfect way to get moving.
In fact, many people consider light gardening to be moderate-intensity exercise. You can burn more calories from an hour of gardening or yard work than you’d get from a brisk walk of the same time allotment. That’s why we highly recommend this activity if you’re looking for a meaningful way to get outside and get healthy with your family!
