Why your Garden is Good for your Health

Regardless, we have a small and overgrown garden behind our house and it does need to spring clean up. I took advantage of the weather this afternoon to get started.

If you are a gardener, it may not surprise you to learn that gardening involves low and medium intensity physical activity. If you are someone that hates the gym and has been putting of the garden tasks: this can be great news if you need to get more active.

Depending on what tasks you are doing in the garden, you might be getting your recommendation of at least 150 min of moderate-intensity physical activity a week through gardening tasks! In studies, many gardening tasks may offer the same physical and psychological benefits – like lower total cholesterol, lower blood pressure, lower mortality, grip strength, bone health, mood, and, if in a club or allotment, social connection – as non-gardening forms of physical activity. This is one of the things I actually help my patients calculate out this time of year!

Like all physical activity, stay hydrated as you work. Always remember sun protection. If you are unsure about your physical fitness to start a new gardening project – just like a gym work-out – touch base with your doc.