How Gardening Benefits Your Body, Mind & Soul
Happy Spring! It is that time of year when many of us prep our garden beds, visit nurseries and plant our seedlings. Last year, at the start of the pandemic, many people sought out to learn more about gardening, and this year is no different. So many of us have this urge to get out in the soil to grow something because gardening makes us feel good. As it turns out, there are multiple recent studies discussing the benefits gardening has on our wellbeing.
Improving Physical Health
If you have spent time out in a garden bed, then you are probably familiar with some of the physical benefits of gardening. Working out in the yard is a great form of exercise, improving strength, endurance, balance, and coordination. You will notice yourself lifting, squatting, pushing, and pulling.
Additionally, by spending time outside, we are exposed to fresh air and sunlight, which are two of the most important foundations of health for supporting your physical and mental health. And let’s not forget the fruits and vegetables that you are growing! Those are great for your health too!
Supporting Our Mental Health
While gardening can be beneficial to our physical health, we can not overlook the incredible benefits it can have on our mental wellbeing. Due to our modern world and separation from the environment, we are now seeing what some like to call “nature deficit disorder”, which may have a deep impact on our health.
Recent studies suggest that by just gardening and immersing yourself in nature daily, we see a decrease in depression, anxiety, stress, anger, and fatigue. Not only that, but we also see an increase in life satisfaction, vigor, cognitive function, sense of community, and even longevity. We know that gardening makes us feel good, and it turns out science can confirm that!
When it comes to kids, gardening is equally beneficial. In addition to the mental health benefits above, gardening with kids can also improve self-confidence as they learn new skills.
Feeding Our Microbiome
The gut microbiome has become a very hot topic in recent years, and that is for good reason! Our gut microbiome not only plays a huge role in gut health, but it also affects the function of our immune system and the production of our neurotransmitters. This is something I plan to write more about in the coming months. It turns out that the diversity of our gut microbiome is constantly changing throughout our lives. It is affected by many different things, such as the birth process and the food we eat. It is also largely affected by the greenery in our living environment.
So let’s get back to gardening! By having daily interactions with nature, we are actively feeding and supporting our microbiome, leading to increased diversity in our gut. This influences our digestive health and immune function, which both can go on to support allergies and skin health.
Getting Started
My biggest piece of advice is to just start. The best way to learn is by doing! That is what I have always done. This year, I tried my hand at growing tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, and summer squash from seed, and it actually went really well! I also planted peas and radishes for the first time, and those have popped up in the past couple of weeks. Just visit a nursery and give it a try!
If you are a researcher like me, then check out Coast of Maine Organics on Youtube! They have a ton of video resources to help you out! This is where I learned all about starting seeds and getting my garden beds ready for the season.
About the Author
Dr. Hannah is a naturopathic doctor providing whole body adjunctive healthcare to patients in Maine and Massachusetts. She believes every patient has their own unique health journey, which influences her personalized treatment approach. She has a passion for helping women, mothers and families heal and thrive, all while uncovering the root cause of whatever ails them. Her goal is to empower and guide her patients on the path towards healing the mind, body and soul through natural methods of healing. Dr. Hannah sees patients locally in Portland, Maine. Through telehealth, she is happy to serve the people of Lewiston, Ellsworth, Belfast, Bangor, and all the towns in between! She now sees Massachusetts patients through telehealth as well!
Disclaimer
The information provided on or through this website is for educational and informational purposes only. This information is not a substitution for proper and personalized medical diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or trusted healthcare provider before making an adjustments or changes to your healthcare regimen. Natural medicine is not inherently harmless, and therefore it is important to speak with your healthcare providers for personalized medical advice.