Trivia: The Health Benefits of Gardening

Summer's here and gardens are in full bloom. As you're working to cultivate those perfect roses and home-grown tomatoes, you'll be reaping some great health benefits as well!

Exercise

Gardening uses all of the major muscle groups, and can help develop endurance, strength and flexibility. Gardening is particularly recommended for older adults, since it is a mild to moderate form of exercise and stimulates all of the five senses.

Thirty minutes of general gardening burns about 200 calories. Using manual equipment instead of power tools will increase the amount of energy you expend.

Regular physical activity, such as gardening, has been shown to reduce the risk of premature death, heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, adult-onset diabetes, osteoporosis, stroke, depression, colon cancer, and other ailments.

Gardening is the second most popular physical activity among Canadians, and is surpassed only by walking. According to information from the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, 66% to 79% of adult Canadians engage in gardening, and it is one of the few physical activities that does not decline in popularity as participants age.

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

Gardeners generally consume more fruits and vegetables than non-gardeners. A study published in the May-June 2006 issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education & Behavior found that after-school gardening improved children's vegetable intake and physical activity. Research published in the April 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association showed that school programs that combined garden-based activities with nutrition education increased sixth-graders' intake of fruits and vegetables.

Horticultural Therapy

Caring for a garden or simply sitting in one can reduce stress and boost overall feelings of wellness. Horticultural therapy is the formal use of gardens and gardening activities in rehabilitation, and can be used in physiotherapy, mental illness treatment, geriatric care, and a variety of other settings. Horticultural therapy is a specialized clinical profession in both the US and Canada.

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Perhaps the true benefits of gardening cannot be summed up by studies. As Lois McMaster Bujold said, "A hundred objective measurements didn't sum the worth of a garden; only the delight of its users did that."

Also see: • Trivia: The Health Risks of Gardening • Healing Gardens – Part 1 • Healing Gardens – Part 2

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