Top 10 health benefits of gardening

I love to garden. I can spend hours and hours digging, planting, weed pulling and mulching. I plant in the ground, in raised beds, in large outside containers and small windowsill planters. I grow everything from herbs and vegetables to fruits and flowers. Not only does gardening fill my kitchen with loads of fresh produce but it has other benefits too! 

There are lots of health benefits of gardening from less stress to better sleep. Spending time in your garden may be just what the doctor ordered...

Health benefits of gardening

Gardening provides stress relief: 

Physical activity is known to help diminish stress and ripping out weeds can go a long way towards making your problems feel smaller. 

Studies show more and more that taking care of plants can be the most efficient method to improve our physical and emotional general condition. They have a serene effect, they can reduce stress and relax muscles and therefore improve our mood as we care for them.

The garden provides a sense of accomplishment & improved self esteem:  

Between making your outdoor space pretty, putting food on the table and cutting your grocery bill, gardening can give you a great feeling of accomplishment which boosts mood and self esteem. 

Plus watching our gardens and house plants flourish under our care can be a source of pride. Who doesn't like seeing a packet of seeds turn into full grown plants?

Related reading: 5 Reasons that playing in the dirt makes you happy by You should Grow.

Improve sleep quality by spending time in the garden:  

Of course any physical activity will tire you out and help you to sleep more soundly, but gardening can also reduce stress and anxiety both of which can keep you up at night.

Gardening is exercise:  

For many people it's easier to exercise when they see a tangible reward. Gardening provides both the reward and the exercise. This study shows that gardening can cut the risk of heart attack and stroke by up to 30%! 

Digging, pulling weeds and pretty much every other garden task uses several muscle groups. More muscle means you burn more calories even when sleeping, plus exertion gets your heart rate up!

Vitamin D from sun exposure while in the garden:  

The sun provides vitamin D and as long as you apply sunscreen so you don't get burned, soaking up the sun is good for you. Spending time in the garden provides you with this much needed nutrient. Many gardens are positioned to take advantage of full sun, so  pull a few weeds and soak up the sun while you're at it!

Garden fresh produce is higher in vitamins:  

Food grown in your own backyard is the freshest food you can eat! Nutrients in fruit and vegetables start to break down right after they are harvested. Cutting out the long trip to the store and then to your house means they wind up on your plate at their absolute healthiest condition! Bonus points if you manage to grow it without pesticides.

Gardening can boost your immunity: 

Exposure to the soil bacteria Mycobacterium vaccae which is common in garden soil may bolster your immune system. According to this study it may even act as a natural antidepressant! 

This is one of the 'good guys' in the bacteria world and is absorbed through inhalation or even ingestion of garden produce (yes, even if you wash it!)

Kids who garden are less picky eaters:  

Kids that help grow foods are more likely to eat those foods, especially if you let them pick something cool and different to grow like cucamelons! Let kids pick a new fruit or vegetable to grow each year. It's good for your diet and what is more fun than purple green beans or black tomatoes?

Gardening is just one of the ways I use to sneak more fruit and vegetables in my family's diet!

Want more reasons to garden with kids? Check out these 6 Benefits of Gardening with Kids by Faithful Farmwife.

Earthing in the garden:

Have you ever heard of earthing? It's the practice of coming in contact with the earth through walking barefoot, getting your hands in the dirt or even just laying on the grass. From this article by Dr Mercola:

Your immune system functions optimally when your body has an adequate supply of electrons, which are easily and naturally obtained by barefoot contact with the Earth....
...Living in direct contact with the earth grounds your body, inducing favorable physiological and electrophysiological changes that promote optimum health.

Ever notice how you feel relaxed when sitting in the sand at the beach, or when sitting on the grass watching the kids play? According to earthing studies, it's the contact with the earth that relaxes you. Interesting, right? 

With all these benefits of gardening, it's no wonder I feel so much better in summer when my garden is in full swing!
Related reading: Want information on organic gardening? Check out this collection of articles on gardening.

~L

Want gardening and healthy living information sent right to your email weekly? Click right here to join my list and get new posts sent directly to you the day they're published!

I am not a doctor or other health care professional nor do I claim to be. I am not trained in any medical field. I am simply passing on information that has worked for me. This information is for entertainment purposes only and is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition. see a Dr if you are ill. Click for my full disclaimer.