Health Benefits of Gardening
Spring time! And time to start thinking about what you might plant in your garden this season! Maybe you don’t have a garden but want to try growing things in large pots or containers, which can also work great. If you’ve never tried growing your own food, now might be a good time to try! Home gardening offers a variety of health benefits, including nutritional, physical, and mental. Plus, growing some of your own produce can save you a little money at the grocery store. So let’s dig into the ways that gardening can benefit your health!
Better nutrition through homegrown foods: Growing your own vegetables, fruits, and herbs gives you access to more nutrient-rich produce. Freshly harvested produce retains more nutrients compared to store-bought items that may have been transported and stored for extended periods. Growing and eating your own vegetables can also lead to a higher fiber intake, which is beneficial for digestive health and can help lower the risk of certain diseases. You are also in control of what to grow and how to grow it, ensuring that your produce is free from unwanted pesticides or additives.
Get a boost of vitamin D: Many of us spend too much time indoors, missing out on the necessary sun exposure we need for our primary source of natural vitamin D. Gardening gets us outdoors and in the sun, which then helps us synthesize vitamin D, an essential vitamin for bone health, immune function, and overall well-being.
Therapeutic effects: Being in nature and engaging in gardening tasks can lower stress levels, reduce anxiety, and improve mood. Studies have shown that spending time in a garden or with plants can increase levels of serotonin (a mood-enhancing hormone) and decrease cortisol (a stress hormone). Many people find gardening to be a form of mindfulness, which promotes relaxation and focuses your mind on the task at hand. It can also give a sense of accomplishment and purpose, especially when you see the fruits of your labor. Gardening can also stimulate our brains in different ways as it requires planning, problem-solving, and creativity. Getting dirt under your nails while digging in the ground can make you pretty happy!
Increased activity and functional fitness: Gardening involves physical activity like digging, weeding, and planting, which can improve muscle strength, joint mobility, flexibility, and stamina. Even light gardening can burn calories, help lower blood pressure, and improve overall cardiovascular and physical fitness. Gardening activities can also help improve balance and coordination, which is important for maintaining mobility.
Here’s a breakdown of some veggies that typically do pretty well in Colorado and are relatively easy to grow:
Cool-Season Vegetables:
Leafy Greens: Lettuce, spinach, kale, chard, and arugula are excellent choices for Colorado gardens, as they thrive in cooler temperatures (plant leafy greens now!).
Root Vegetables: Carrots, radishes, beets, and turnips are also easy to grow and can be planted early in the season.
Other Cool-Season Options: Peas, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, and potatoes also do well in Colorado's climate.
Warm-Season Vegetables:
Summer Squash, Zucchini, and Cucumbers: These are generally easy and productive, especially with enough warmth.
Tomatoes: While they require a longer growing season, tomatoes can be grown successfully in Colorado, especially if started indoors or purchased as transplants.
Herbs: Dill is very easy to grow from seed and will come back on its own year after year. Things like basil, thyme, rosemary, and sage are best bought as transplants and kept in a container or in pots.
Gardening can be a very rewarding hobby; there’s something quite satisfying about eating foods that you’ve grown yourself! If you’ve never tried gardening, start with small containers and choose just a couple of things to focus on. Year after year, you can continue to experiment and add more. If you have questions about getting started, please reach out to me (coach Liz) - happy to give you some pointers and to help you get started!
