The Health Benefits Of Gardening Might Surprise You

Ever heard of the gardener with a cart full of four-leaf clovers? He pushed his luck.

Luck can be a factor in gardening, including good health for the gardener, but the well-documented health benefits of the activity go beyond luck.

These are the effects of gardening on our health, some of which may be unexpected.

According to a 2013 study published in the American Journal of Public Health, people who garden regularly have a lower body mass index than those who don't.
In the same study, the average weight loss was 11 pounds. for women and 16 lbs. For men after one year participating in a community garden.
Gardening can reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke by up to 30% in adults over 60, according to a 2013 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
A 2016 Harvard study of more than 120,000 women in the United States found that exposure to natural and green environments increases human life expectancy and reduces mortality by 12%.
According to a 2017 study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, children enrolled in kindergarten ate more fruits and vegetables.
According to the American Society for Horticultural Sciences, gardening provides a complete body workout. "Goal-oriented activity encourages you to stick with your exercise longer and therefore get more out of aerobic activity."
Working with plants provides stress relief, according to a 2016 NASA study by scientists, who found that working with plants keeps astronauts healthy and happy in the harsh environment of space.
The beneficial soil bacteria, Mycobacterium vaccai, stimulate the human immune system, reduce inflammation and help combat stress.
Hand coordination and strength are enhanced in gardening activities such as planting and pruning.
Gardening can restore faith in the future because it requires a leap of faith to believe that our efforts will lead to growth and change. When these beliefs come true, it helps to bring hope and optimism into everyday life.
Gardening sharpens the brain. In a 2019 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, researchers measured the nerve growth of study participants, all elderly, before and after planting a vegetable garden and found that their nerve growth increased significantly .
Gardeners become lifelong learners because there is always something to learn about new plants, varieties and techniques.
Daily gardening can reduce the risk of dementia by up to 36 percent, according to a 2006 study published in the National Library of Medicine, in which researchers followed more than 2,800 people age 60 and older for 16 years.
In a multi-year study published in 2011, depressed people engaged in gardening for 12 weeks, after which researchers measured various aspects of mental health and found that all improved significantly.
Numerous studies have shown that working with plants is a powerful rehabilitation tool for those recovering from an addiction.
The health effects of gardening are immediate and long-term.

In the studies cited, the term "garden" generally refers to activities in which people grow, cultivate, and care for plants, flowers, vegetables, lawns, and landscapes. How much time should a person spend gardening per day or per week to reap the health benefits?

The National Institutes of Health recommends gardening for 30 to 45 minutes three to five times a week.
The Journal of Hortitechnology recommends gardening for 30 minutes a day, preferably during most of the growing season.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends 2.5 hours of moderate gardening per week to reduce the risk of many health problems, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.