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There’s nothing like the taste of a sun-ripened tomato or strawberries hand-picked from your very own garden just moments before. But gardening does more than provide us with great tasting, nutritious food. Sure, eating more of that succulent produce and less processed food improves your health by leaps and bounds, but it turns out that the simple act of getting your hands in the dirt offers other amazing health benefits as well.
Reduced Stress – According to a recent study conducted in the Netherlands, gardening can help lower stress levels better than other relaxing activities, such as reading. So the next time the stress of the day gets you down, grab your gardening gloves and hat, and head outside.
Improved Self-Esteem – Some studies suggest that gardening can improve one’s self-esteem. And we’d have to agree. There’s no better feeling than watching something grow from seed to fruit or vegetable, nurturing it along the way.
Improved Brain Health – Gardening involves a number of brain functions, such as problem-solving, learning, sensory awareness, and more. So it comes as no surprise that a long-term study found that daily gardening represented the single biggest risk reduction for dementia, reducing such incidences by a whopping 36%.
Exercise – Okay, so gardening isn’t exactly the same as a Zumba class, but for individuals whose health prevents them for participating in high intensity exercise, digging, weeding, and planting are all excellent options for of low impact exercise.
Overall Health – If you’re looking for ways to achieve your 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each day, gardening may just be the answer. And it’s more exciting than the treadmill. One study showed that regular gardening helped reduce stroke and heart attack risk in those 60 years or older by 30%. Plus, exposing your skin to 10 minutes of sun each day (without sunscreen) can help reduce the risks of osteoporosis, heart disease, and certain cancers.
So if you’re ready to reap the benefits of gardening, here are a few tips to help get your started.
To make gardening more comfortable, or if you don’t have nutrient rich soil, consider a raised garden bed.
Look for an area of your lawn that gets plenty of sun.
When choosing fertilizer, opt for one that is all natural and organic.
Keep plant disease at bay by rotating your crops. Planting the same thing in the same spot year after year can cause disease to build up.
Avoid using a sprinkler to water your plants, as wet leaves can attract disease. Use a hose to deliver water directly to the roots.
You know what else causes a giant reduction in stress? An air conditioning system that won’t let you down. So if it’s been a year or more since your system was last cleaned and inspected, contact the home comfort pros at GBT Heating & Cooling for dependable service at a guaranteed upfront price.