Growing your own garden — whether it’s indoors, in your backyard, at the schoolyard or part of a plot in a community garden — can do more than provide tasty produce and beautiful flowers. There are some major health benefits to getting a little dirt under your nails. Here are five reasons to get a green thumb:
1. You’ll boost your mood.
If you’re feeling a little blue, don’t reach for a glass of wine or eat a gallon of ice cream — grab your shovel and head to the garden instead. Gardening has a wide range of mood benefits, such as reductions in depression, anxiety and anger, as well as increases in happiness, according to a study published in Preventive Medicine Reports. And Dutch researchers found that gardening can also fight stress better than other relaxing leisure activities like reading. Looks like gardening is your mood-booster in a pot.
[See: 10 Ways to Break a Bad Mood.]
2. You may lose weight.
Gardening burns calories, which is good for your waistline. Both men and women who garden are less likely to be overweight or obese than their non-gardening neighbors and siblings, according to a study from the American Journal of Public Health. In fact, the American Council on Exercise reports that gardening burns about 300 calories an hour. Compare this to fast walking, which burns upwards of 230 calories an hour.
[See: 13 Fun Sports That Burn Calories.]
3. You’ll think better.
When we’re surrounded by plants, we tend to be more productive and creative. This is a great reason to add plants to your classroom or office. Doing so might even have long-term benefits: A daily dose of gardening lowers the risk of dementia by 36 percent, even when a range of other health factors are taken into account, according to a study from the Medical Journal of Australia.
4. You’ll be more active.
Gardening is a great way for people of all ages to get some whole-body exercise. For example, kids in school-based gardening interventions show an increase in time spent in moderate and vigorous physical activity, according to a study published in Preventive Medicine. Try trading in your kettle bells, treadmill and TRX bands for rakes, wheelbarrows and watering cans. Digging and raking count as high-intensity physical activities; and tasks such as weeding, mulching, hoeing, harvesting, watering and mixing count as moderate-intensity physical activities, according to research in the American Society for Horticultural Science.
5. You’ll eat more fruits and veggies.
Gardening allows easy access to fresh produce. Adults who grow their own produce consume more fruits and veggies, according to research from the American Journal of Public Health. Even kids, who tend to be our pickiest eaters, eat more greens when a garden is implemented in their school, community or after-school setting, based on a review from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Not only is homegrown produce tastier than store-bought produce, it’s healthier too since it’s grown without fertilizers and preservatives and is richer in nutrients.
[See: 11 Winter Produce Picks That Pack a Health Wallop.]
In short, planting bulbs, digging trenches and pruning bushes can improve your physical, mental and social health. No matter your age, there are some major health benefits to gardening. So what are you waiting for? Join the 1 in 3 Americans who garden. And it’s easier than you think: Even if you have very little space or experience, you can start out with just a few houseplants or garden in containers. So instead of a Netflix binge this weekend, try getting down and dirty in your backyard. Grab some gloves, a shovel and dig in. Just be sure to wear a hat and slather on some sunscreen.
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5 Reasons Gardening Is Good for Your Health originally appeared on usnews.com
