You know that gardener who had a wheelbarrow full of four-leaf clovers? He pushed his luck.
Luck can be a factor in gardening, including a gardener's good health, but the health benefits of this activity go beyond luck.
Here are the health implications of gardening, some of which may be unexpected.
- According to a 2013 study published in the American Journal of Public Health, those who garden regularly have a significantly lower body mass index than those who do not garden.
- In the same study, the average weight loss was 11 pounds. for women and 16 lbs. Men a year after participating in the community garden.
- According to a 2013 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, gardening can reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke by 30% in adults over the age of 60.
- A 2016 Harvard study of more than 120,000 women in the United States found that people who were in green natural environments lived longer and had a 12% lower death rate.
- According to a 2017 study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, children who were introduced to gardening ate more fruits and vegetables.
- According to the American Horticultural Society, gardening provides a complete body workout. "Goal-based activity encourages you to continue exercising longer and therefore experience more of the benefits of aerobic activity."
- Working with plants is a serious stress reliever, according to a 2016 NASA study by scientists who found that working with plants helps astronauts stay healthy and happy in the harsh environment of space.
- The useful soil bacterium Mycobacterium vacci strengthens the human immune system, has an anti-inflammatory effect and increases resistance to stress.
- Coordination and hand strength are improved through gardening activities such as planting and pruning.
- Gardening can restore faith in the future because it requires a leap of faith, faith that our efforts will lead to growth and change. When this belief becomes a reality, it helps bring hope and optimism into everyday life.
- Gardening sharpens the brain. In a 2019 study published in the International Journal of Environmental and Public Health Research, researchers measured the cranial nerve growth of study participants, all older adults, before and after planting vegetables and found that their cranial nerve growth increased significantly.
- Gardeners are lifelong learners because there is always something to learn about new plants, varieties and techniques.
- Daily gardening can reduce the risk of dementia by 36%, according to a 2006 study published in the National Library of Medicine, in which researchers followed more than 2,800 people over the age of 60 for 16 years.
- In a multi-year study published in 2011, people with depression participated in gardening for 12 weeks, after which the researchers measured various aspects of mental health and found that everything improved significantly.
- Many studies have shown that working with plants is a powerful rehabilitation tool for those recovering from addiction.
- The health effects of gardening are immediate and long-term.
In the studies cited, the term "garden" generally refers to activities in which people grow, cultivate, and care for plants, flowers, vegetables, lawns, and landscapes. How long does a person need to garden daily or weekly to see health benefits?
- The National Institutes of Health recommends gardening for 30-45 minutes three to five times a week.
- The Journal of Hortitechnology recommends 30 minutes of gardening on most days during the growing season.
- The Centers for Disease Control recommends 2.5 hours of moderate gardening per week to reduce the risk of many health problems, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
