Gardening Your Way To Healthi

Spring is here and the earth is bursting to life. I absolutely love this time of year, it makes me feel like anything is possible. This is also the time I spend reconnecting with nature. There's just something about the smell of unearthed dirt and freshly cut grass that feeds my soul. Not only that but getting down and dirty in my garden can really help me shed the pounds. Gardening doesn't feel like exercise buts it's so healthy for your body.

Let's look at all the ways that gardening benefits your health journey. Gardening can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Exercise in the garden gives all major muscle groups a good workout including your legs, arms, buttocks, stomach, neck, and back. Calorie burn. Yep, that's right. You can burn up to 300 calories per hour gardening. Gardening is considered a moderate intensity exercise by the American Heart Association. While the extent of intensity varies depending upon your activity, anything from pulling weeds, pruning, to more intense activity like digging and mowing counts towards fitness.Beyond calorie benefits, gardening can also increase bone mass, dexterity, strength, and improve lean muscle mass. Gardening should be thought of as a whole-body exercise that works all of the major muscle groups. When you are gardening, you are incorporating all four types of exercise: endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility. Gardening can be much more vigorous than people may realize. So be sure and start slow, listen to your body, and make sure you stay hydrated.Gardening can also help you eat healthier too! Besides the direct physical benefits of exercise, gardening can also help you to eat a more varied and healthy diet. By growing produce such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, strawberries, salad vegetables, and may other options, you're saving money and will always have access to fresh fruits and vegetables. And it's fun to eat what you grow.Gardening has a positive effect not only on your physical health but mental health as well. It's already scientifically proven that just being outside has a tremendous effect on your mental well-being. The fresh air and sunshine have a direct and instant effect on mood. Gardening lowers stress levels, which in turn lowers cortisol, and that alone helps increase your body’s ability to shed the pounds.Gardening is a tranquil, meditative type of exercise that helps your entire body. It builds muscle, burns calories, encourages healthy eating, and just makes you happy. Not only is it great for weight loss, but it’s also great for overall health. Healthy bodies lose weight more easily. Gardening is a great holistic activity that benefits your whole Body, Mind, and Soul.