Do you know how illogical it is for people to go to the gym in the lift and on the lift and use the step machine? The same can be done with people who go to the supermarket to buy groceries and go to the gym to work out. Why not combine the two and the garden? Gardening benefits the planet and can do wonders for your health.
As anyone who has been gardening knows, this takes some effort. Even though we are known for promoting no digging "lawn" gardening and generally keeping it leafless, there is still a lot to be desired and many benefits to be had from gardening.
What 2.5 hours of gardening a week can do According to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2.5 hours of moderate activity a week can reduce obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, depression, colon cancer, and early death.
The CDC considers gardening a moderate-intensity activity, which means that gardening is on track for that 2.5-hour goal. In addition, people who engage in moderate-intensity gardening exercise are more likely to engage in physical activity that is 40 to 50 minutes longer on average than those who engage in activities such as walking or cycling.
Here's how much you can expect
per hour of gardening
if you pay attention to the calories.(Please note that this is an average and may vary slightly depending on age, weight, etc.) Heavy
- landscaping: 400-600 calories per hour
- Leaf raking: 350-450 calories per hour
- Yard cleaning: 400 calories per hour Lawn mowing:
- 250-350 calories per hour 20 calories.
- 0-400
- calories per hour Shower: 120 calories per hour
- Listen to your body While gardening has countless benefits,
risks
. Be careful with exercise, avoid too much sun, stay hydrated, etc. And remember that it's always wise to talk to your health care provider before starting a new activity.
Other Benefits of Vegetables
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Horticultural therapy, horticulture, plants and horticulture are fully supported by science to relieve physical and mental symptoms. These are just a few of the many studies on the health benefits of gardening.
Reduce the risk
of forgetting A 2006 study at St Vincent's Hospital in Darlinghurst, Australia, looked at risk factors for dementia in a group of older Australians. The researchers followed more than 2,800 people over the age of 60 for 16 years and found that exercise, especially gardening, reduced the risk of dementia. Specifically, they concluded that gardening can reduce the risk of dementia by 36 percent.
Stress Relief
A Dutch study published in the Journal of Health Psychology found that both gardening and reading led to a drop in post-stress cortisol levels, but the drop was stronger in the gardening group. In addition, noted positive mood was fully restored after gardening, but decreased even more during reading.
Widespread
health effects
A 2017 meta-analysis provided "convincing evidence of positive health effects of gardening". Overall, the results show that participation in gardening has a significant positive impact on health. The authors concluded, "A positive association with gardening has been shown for many health outcomes, including symptoms of depression and anxiety, stress, mood disorders, and BMI, as well as improved quality of life, sense of community, physical activity levels, and cognitive function."
Financial savings and long-term benefits
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And we shouldn't forget the other benefits of working on the ground, including:
• Cost savings in production.
• Save on gym memberships.
• Save resources to go to the gym
• Saving resources used to manufacture, package and transport commercial products.
• Protect your stocks and increase your consumption of cheap organic fruits and vegetables.
• Provide habitat for wildlife and especially for pollinators.
Of course, this is all as long as you have land that you can call your own. If not, consider joining a community garden or volunteering at a park or community cleaning... no gym membership required.
