Being stuck inside these past few months has given many people pause to examine ways to re-engage in hobbies as well as be active outdoors while still maintaining social distancing standards. Gardening is one of those hobbies currently on the rise. As a health professional, I cannot speak highly enough of the health benefits of gardening!
Gardening is more than just digging in the dirt, carrying pots, and planting seeds; it is an art and a science as well. Many people do not recognized the numerous benefits that you can reap in planting these green and colorful patches! For some, gardening is a way for them to relax, restore, and renew their outlook in life while others use this hobby as an additional holistic food source.
How TOXIC are you?
Take Dr. Stephanie Zgreggen’s free Toxicity Quiz to find out?
Determine if you are experiencing toxicity symptoms and if you are at a high risk for toxin exposure.
CLICK the button below and we will send the quiz to you right away.
The Mental and Physical Benefits of Gardening
First and foremost, it’s a form of exercise.
Walking while carrying pots of plants is a form of cardio exercise and core training for balance. Depending on the weight of the load, pushing a wheelbarrow is a good form of strength training and can also improve your grip and strength in the lower arms.
Pushing the lawnmower & trimming the hedges might sound simple, but they can leave you out of breath. 10 minutes of the exercise from these simple gardening activities, at least once a day, can help protect you from high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases.
Bye Bye Blues
Let there be light, in your life! Soak up all that Vitamin D, but make sure to cover your skin with a reliable sunscreen. Vitamin D helps our body to absorb calcium and it also boosts our immune system and blocks depressive mood.
RELATED: Sunshine is Healthy!
Mental Therapy
After a long day or week at work, gardening for at least 30 minutes can diffuse your anxieties and stress. In addition to the mood boosting effects of Vitamin D, gardening also gives you a sense of purpose and puts your priorities in perspective.
If you have been experiencing a major setback in your life, gardening can spark a sense of hope and optimism within you.
Gardening is Family Friendly
Even toddlers can help with gardening! It’s a wonderful activity to do with the entire family. It gets everyone together outside. And, if we instill the “fun-factor” for the kids it becomes something they look forward to and enjoy, rather than a chore. Most kids I know like to play in the dirt and sand 🙂
The additional benefit of involving your children in growing fruits and vegetables is that they learn to love eating them too! The benefits of gardening with your entire family are enormous!
RELATED: Starting a Vegetable Garden: Harvest Wisdom
Preserving the Environment
Gardening is also a way for us to give back to Mother Nature and in return, it helps us back. Plants are known to purify carbon emission, preventing global warming, and they produce the oxygen we need to breath. The root systems of plants also helps prevent erosion by keeping soil in place. Aside from providing shade and beautifying our surroundings, plants also shield our garden from the outside world giving as tranquility and privacy.
One of the best benefits of gardening is to invite your friends over and do it together. It is fun, interactive, less expensive, and therapeutic! Spend one weekend in your yard and another weekend in a friend’s yard.
You Can Grow Your Own Healthy Food!
Try growing some garlic! It grows very well in most climates and it’s a natural repellent for critters like rabbits that might eat your other plants!
Here’s an easy and healthy recipe for my favorite Roasted Garlic Asparagus. Try it out and let me know in the comments or on social media if you like it 🙂
Cheers to growing some veggies, herbs, flowers and plants this summer!
Dr Z
Dr. Stephanie Zgraggen – a chiropractor and clinical nutritionist, is the director of Lime and Lotus Healing Arts Center in Charleston, South Carolina. She is also an author and leading expert in women’s hormones and health. Her private practice is centered on functional endocrinology, lifestyle modification and whole food supplementation. Her expertise includes functionally evaluating thyroid, adrenals, male and female hormone imbalances, and digestion. Her mission is to empower women to transform their lives naturally to balance their weight, energy and get their sexy back! She has written for national publications such as Chiropractic Economics, Natural Awakenings and Nutrition Perspectives and has shared the stage at events with Elizabeth Gilbert and Marianne Williamson. For more information on Dr Z and her programs and services visit –
