6 Benefits of Gardening for Physical and Mental Health

Did you know that gardening is natural medicine for the mind and body? The benefits of gardening range from improving the quality of our lives to reducing Carbon emission into the environment.

Harvard naturalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Edward O. Wilson, who coined the term biophilia (love of living things) believes that nature holds the key to health and that we all have an affinity for nature because we are part of nature and would prefer to look at flowers and grass rather than concrete or steel. As part of the natural world, we are connected to and restored by it. Gardening hence is good for the body, mind and soul.

benefits of gardening

Some garden for leisure, while gardening is a lifestyle for others. Spending time outdoors in the company of plants comes in many forms: growing herbs on a window seal, tending to flower beds or cultivating larger pieces of land.

The benefits of starting and maintaining your own garden are countless and healthy.

An active and engaged lifestyle
Green thumb or not, gardening provides a special connection to nature for nature lovers and non nature lovers alike. The delights of gardening range from listening to the sound of birds singing on your plants to a cost-less way of losing weight.

“Spring and summer gardening can be a great whole-body workout to shed extra winter weight. Weight-bearing activities such as digging and lifting can build muscle, and aerobic activities such as raking, mowing and hoeing can burn calories. A 180-pound person will use 202 calories during 30 minutes of digging, spading and tilling. Even 30 minutes of cutting the grass on a riding mower burns 101 calories.” says Jennifer Foss, RN on Pioneerthinking.com

Health benefits
The health benefits of gardening include a more active lifestyle (exercise), exposure to vitamin D from sunshine, and reduced the risks of diseases such as obesity, osteoporosis especially in women, diabetes and heart disease. Research conducted by Jill Litt, Ph.D. from the University of Colorado shows that gardeners report an average of 12 hours of physical activity a week. That’s about 30% more exercise than reported by non-gardeners. Mentally, gardening reduces anxiety, fatigue, agitation and aggression.

“… digging, planting, weeding, and other repetitive tasks that require strength or stretching are excellent forms of low-impact exercise,” says Anne Harding of Health.com, “especially for people who find more vigorous exercise a challenge, such as those who are older, have disabilities, or suffer from chronic pain.”

Fresh bountiful foods
How about your very own home grown tomatoes, vegetables, corn, zucchinis, cucumbers, or even herbs? Gardening helps adopt a lifestyle of healthy eating. Not only are these foods juicy and fresh, they lack preservatives and are handed to us straight from the bosom of mother nature. Whether lightly steamed, stewed, or broiled, harvesting your own foods grown with love and nurtured by nature encourages us to get creative in the kitchen.

Reduces spending
The average family spends more than a hundred dollars a week on groceries. Preparing family meals with fresh foods harvested from the garden is a sure way to trim down on this major household expense … especially with everyone looking to save a buck these days. Let’s not forget those savings on money spent on painkillers, sleep aids, depression pills, and gym fees.

A family activity
With families spending less and less time together due to busy schedules and technological advances, gardening is a fun activity to get everyone together working on a beautiful project. It helps strengthen the bond with loved ones.

Good for sex!
“Do gardeners have a better sex life? Studies show that not only is your sex life better but health in general improves when you garden.” In her new book, Secrets of the Land, Designing Harmonious Gardens with Feng Shui, Shelley Sparks award winning landscape architect, Feng Shui expert, author, and teacher describes how to design your garden to promote good health and luck. “People who have never gardened don’t recognize the physical, emotional, and spiritual ways that gardening can enhance your life… If you already garden, you are probably well aware of many advantages- fresh food or flowers, good exercise, the joy of seeing life grow, and the peace that you feel in the garden. If you have never tried gardening, you can do it almost anywhere from a sunlit window to an estate. The benefits of gardening can be yours. So put down the Viagra and pick up the trowel.”

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