As we all find ourselves busier in our daily lives, getting chance or remembering to exercise can become increasingly difficult. It’s something we all know we should do for the good of our health, but we often don’t get round to it for whatever reason.
It’s a sad and sobering fact that every year, one in every five Australians will experience a mental health issue.
The good news is that getting your hands dirty in your garden can make a big difference and give you a health boost that you might not otherwise have received.
The bottom line is that while more and more effective pharmaceutical therapies are being developed all the time, there are a number of natural remedies that can also have a positive impact – one of which is gardening.
Here are five of the top health benefits afforded by gardening:
1. Vitamin D exposure
Vitamin D – which we get primarily from sunlight – boosts calcium levels and helps benefit our overall immune systems. Just be careful while you’re gardening when it’s hot and wear suitable protective clothing and/or sunscreen.
2. Lower risk of dementia
A study conducted back in 2006 found that gardening actually helps lower a person’s risk of dementia by 36%. If that’s not reason enough to get out in your garden then I don’t know what is.
3. Gardening helps boost your mood
Gardening has actually been found to help fight stress better than many other hobbies. So next time you’re feeling a little bit down, get out into your garden and boost those serotonin levels.
4. A great source of aerobic exercise
You don’t need to work till you drop to benefit from the aerobic exercise boosts gardening affords. Simply pulling up some weeds, mowing the lawn or watering the plants can all give you a vital physical health boost.
5. Helps combat loneliness
Our gardens are great places to host gatherings and parties, which help us interact with other people and combat loneliness. If your garden isn’t quite ready to host an event, why not go along to one in a community garden or park near you. The health benefits will be the same and you’ll probably meet some new people too.
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