I don't know if these tips are accurate, but I love the idea that gardening can create so much awesomeness in our lives.
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In our world of constant and instant communication, we are exposed to cures for whatever illness we may have with the latest wonder drugs, often costly and some coming with big risks and side effects.
Isn't it wonderful that age-old simple cures can sometimes work wonders. Gardening is turning out to be one of the best drugs available for mind, body, and spirit.
Do you want to lose kilos, build muscle, look and feel great, have fun, save money and help out the planet?
Do you want to be more resistant to disease and injuries?
Did you know that one hour of gardening equals 35 minutes of jogging?
The physical benefits of gardening include:
- weight loss
- blood circulation
- flexibility
- reduced bone loss
- stronger immune system
- increased Vitamin D
- greater strength
- improved coordination
Vitamin D is critical to our health, it regulates calcium and phosphorus levels in our bodies. It can be supplemented, but the best way to increase it in our bodies is by direct exposure, and gardening is an easy way to achieve that.
When you are gardening you are required to bend, dig, lift, reach, prune and stretch, all of which build and tone muscles, strengthen bones and improve flexibility. Then, in turn, these movements increase blood circulation, leading to lower blood pressure and faster healing, making you more resistant to injuries and reducing the risk of bone loss, heart disease, diabetes and other health nasties.
The psychological benefits of gardening include:
- increased neurotrophins - improving your mental health
- cortisol reduction - stress relief
- mycobacterium vacche exposure - reduces depression (mycobacterium vacche are harmless bacteria that live in soil and boost serotonin in our brains and work as an antidepressant)
And we have not even mentioned the benefits of growing your own produce, including the increase in nutrients and flavours in home grown veggies.
Aside from flavour, kids love growing their own veggies and plants, seniors develop a wonderful sense of fulfilment, and it's a great excuse to get the teenagers out of the house and away from technology.
Furthermore, because supermarkets choose produce according to its shelf-life there is a huge disparity in flavour, which anyone who has grown tomatoes knows. Not only that, home grown food is dramatically fresher than produce that has travelled many kilometres and sat in cold storage for months.
Gardening is truly a wonder drug, it costs very little and rewards you in so many ways!
