The Most Surprising Health Benefits of Gardening
The benefits of gardening can have a significant impact on your life—both mentally and physically. Get outside to your garden, create a professional-looking landscape, or so some home maintenance to install gutter guards and a rain barrel to keep rainwater from damaging your home while conserving water. All the while, you are getting exercise, boosting mental health and your immune system, and lowering stress. Read on for the surprising mental and physical benefits of growing flowers of vegetable in your own backyard: 1. Gardening boosts the immune system Gardening is a form of exercise, and a healthy body is the best defense against disease, beyond just the physical benefits of moving your body. Gardening not only promotes a healthy mind, it also has clear physical benefits aside from aerobic exercise. According to research from the University of Copenhagen, working in the garden strengthens the immune system because of the beneficial bacteria present in soil. Gardening outside can also reduce allergy symptoms, particularly if your allergies are seasonal in nature. 2. Exposure to vitamin D Exposing your skin to the sun is important in producing vitamin D, which helps regulate the immune system and promotes a healthy amount of calcium for bone support.