People who love to garden are no doubt familiar with the positive benefits of working in the dirt. However, science has also proven that the great outdoors can offer many more health benefits beyond simple physical activity. In addition to providing nutritious fruits and vegetables for your meals and beautiful flowers for your home, here are more ways gardening and interacting with nature support your health and well-being.
- Gardening and a walk in the park on a sunny day increases your exposure to vitamin D, which is essential for not only healthy bones, but also for metabolic pathways which support strong immune systems and aid in the prevention of myriad diseases such as multiple sclerosis, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and prostate cancer. Just also remember to use sunscreen and sunglass protection.
- Gardening and interacting with nature have been associated with a decreased risk for dementia.
- Gardening is a great stress buster and mood booster. Participants in a recent study from the Netherlands reported an improvement in their moods within 30 minutes of sitting in an outdoor garden. Researchers also noted study participants had decreased blood levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.
- Current evidence suggests that gardening and nature may decrease depression. It was found that some individuals who regularly took walks in a forest or park, took up gardening as a hobby, or watched/interacted with animals outside were able to decrease or discontinue their medication regimes. However, the exact reason for this is still unclear and research is still ongoing. Please note: Individuals who are currently taking medication for their depression should always first consult their health provider before making any changes to their care.
- Gardening, horticulture interventions, and interacting with nature have been found to be successful augments to addiction recovery programs.
- Gardening has been shown to empower individuals. Planting a seed and watching it grow into a nutritious food source, a beautiful flower, or a mighty tree allows individuals to experience success or a sense of accomplishment – sometimes over adverse conditions. Gardening is a powerful and symbolic way to “push back” against inequalities or social injustices in your life.
- Gardening and interacting with nature are great ways to combat loneliness and nurture our altruistic and spiritual self. Working with others in a community garden is an obvious example. However, evidence also suggests that even walking alone through forests, tending to flowers, or watching and listening to the birds, bees, and other wildlife seem to offer similar benefits. Environmental scientists, religious leaders and philosophers, and anthropologists believe this is due to humans’ innate need to connect with others, our planetary environment, and our spiritual or religious beliefs.
How do gardening and nature benefit your health?
