Ahhhh …. summertime in Minnesota. It just doesn’t get better than this. After a long winter nothing makes me happier than digging in my flower gardens. There are hundreds of reasons to plant a flower garden, but I recently read an article and was intrigued by the unexpected health benefits of gardening.
Here are a few of the highlights:
Stress relief and self-esteem. A Dutch study asked two groups (gardeners/readers) to complete a stressful task. They reported that the gardening group had measurably better moods than the reading group and also had measurably lower cortisol levels. Cortisol, the stress hormone, may influence more than just your mood. Elevated cortisol levels has been linked to memory, learning problems and heart disease.
Heart health and stroke risk. A large Stockholm study showed that regular gardening cuts stroke and heart attack risk by up to 30% for those over 60. It helps you achieve moderate exercise and provides a rewarding motivation (beautiful flowers and vegetables). Raised beds can save wear and tear on your joints and extend possible gardening years for seniors.
Hand strength and dexterity. Gardening keeps hand muscles agile. Practice hand-healthy gardening by starting with a few simple warm-ups, positioning your body ergonomically, and changing tasks frequently before strain becomes evident.
Brain health and Alzheimer’s risk. Researchers found daily gardening to represent the single biggest risk reduction for dementia, reducing incidence by 36% because it involves so many of our critical functions, including strength, endurance, dexterity, learning, problem solving, and sensory awareness.
Immune regulation. Soaking in Vitamin D from the summer sun helps you fight off colds and flus but even the dirt under your fingernails may be working in your favor. The “friendly” soil bacteria Mycobacterium vaccae – common in garden dirt – has been found to alleviate symptoms of allergies and asthma. It also has been shown to alleviate depression.
– Diane Kaiser, JETPUBS Inc.