GARDENING: POSITIVE EFFECT ON HEALTH

 

                                                    Gardening helps to reform our lifestyle!


A large proportion of the world’s population lives in urban areas and urban lifestyle is prone to health hazards such as heart disease, stroke, depression, diabetes and obesity. More than 264 million people of all age group suffer from depression worldwide. And women are more affected than men. You will be surprised to learn that India is the most depressed country in the world, according to the World Health Organization, followed by China and the USA. We are one of the most affected by anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. And we must take charge of the current situation. Let us find out how. 






Nature and Human life


Nature has always played an important role in humans' life. It is not only beautiful on the outside but it also makes us feel good in the inside. It would be no exaggeration to say that nature is exquisitely beautiful, extremely enigmatic and ever pulsating with love. No doubt, nature is healing for mental health conditions and trauma. Even, blue and green spaces and sounds of nature are evidenced to impact positively on mood and well-being.


Gardening is definitely one of the most common ways of interacting with nature and is actually enjoyed as a popular pastime in many countries. Research has shown that spending time around trees and plants benefits both body and mind. Who doesn't feel refreshed and reinvigorated by breathing fresh air or simply being in the lap of nature? Everyone does and its time to do more of it. 


Various popular studies show that gardening increases individual's life satisfaction, vigor, psychological well-being, sense of community and cognitive function. And it is being widely adopted in various countries of the world. In the United Kingdom, approximately 40% of the total population actively participate in gardening. Likewise, in USA, one in three, participates in gardening and that in Japan, one in four, participates in daily gardening as a hobby.





                                                  A full bloom is pure joy!



Positive effects of gardening 


Research and study reveals that there exists an extremely positive association of nature and health. And since you can not be in the lap of nature always, you can always be connected to it through gardening at your home. As they say, if you cannot be around something and you love, just create it for yourself. Many research prove that gardening is beneficial for mind and body. Reduction in depression, cut down of anxiety and better sleep are some of the positive outcomes of being close to plants and nature. This study also provides strong evidence of overall positive effects of gardening on human health.




My balcony garden!

So, it is proved that connection with nature is the key to harmony. This is the reason why plants attract us and gardening is a very fulfilling activity. The beauty and grandeur of nature takes our thoughts away from worry and gives us peace, comfort and pleasure. And apart from creating happiness and providing relief, trees and plants benefit mental health in umpteen ways. 




Gardening is great for mental health as well as physical exercise


Besides planting trees, pruning and watering, gardening involves hard work. So gardening is not only about mental relaxation but also about physical exercise. Working for the growth of your plants also involves exercising the muscles of the hands, abdomen, back and legs. In this way, gardening also helps to tone up these parts and burn calories easily. And its a given that exercise improves blood circulation and it reduces feelings like stress and anxiety.


It is my firm belief that gardening is a medicine for anxiety and depression. Scientific research also proves that gardening reduces stress. Sunlight, soil and greenery helps calm the mind. When you spend time with your plants, look after them and help them grow, you tend to forget about your problems and it benefits in stress management. 





                                                I love to be around my plants!



My personal experience


As far as my personal experience goes, I can easily claim that gardening as a hobby brings in a lots of inner joy, moments of pleasure and highest level of comfort. When we have trees and plants around us, our bodies are naturally blessed. The scent and colors of the plant  enhance our mood and heal our pain. When the flowers bloom and the greenery in our garden increases, the soul feels happy from within. Gardening is not only a wonderful hobby but also a beautiful remedy to all the ailments related to mind. Gardening involves digging in the dirt and it can be a little messy but it is not at all bad for the body. Research suggests that bacteria found in garden soil, notably mycobacterium vaccae, can improve our immune system. This “good” bacteria alleviates allergies, asthma, and psoriasis.


Gardening has become my favorite past time and I love reading about it, exploring about plants and connecting with people who love their garden. Do share your experiences of gardening in the comments below.





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