Discover the biggest benefits of gardening

1. It strengthens the immune system  

According to a study by SLU (the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) in Alnarp, physical contact with plants can have beneficial and even healing effects. This positive impact on the immune system is greater when gardening is performed outdoors. That's because when you take in sunlight, your vitamin D levels increase, and this affects different immune system processes and helps absorb calcium, among other functions.  

Of course, to avoid this exposure posing a risk, it's important to avoid peak hours (between 12:00 and 16:00) and to protect yourself with sunscreen and hats while gardening. 

2. It reduces stress

Although stress plays a positive survival role (it helps us react to adversities), if it is too frequent it can be very damaging to our health and affect how we live our everyday lives. That's why looking for ways to reduce stress is critical when this situation continues over time.  

Is this the case for you? We have good news! According to a study published in the Journal of Health Psychology, spending half an hour a day gardening reduces cortisol levels, the hormone responsible for regulating stress.  

3. It helps keep you in shape 

Gardening and caring for crops is an activity that involves aerobic physical movement. Although this, of course, depends on the task – some can be truly strenuous. In fact, 45 minutes spent gardening is equivalent to half an hour exercising, so if you garden daily or several times a week, it will be perfect for keeping you in shape.

So if you're looking to increase your calorie expenditure and are interested in gardening, don't hesitate any longer – start planting now! In addition to cardiovascular exercise, it also works your coordination, when performing meticulous tasks such as planting seeds, and strength, when repeating certain movements. A well-rounded workout! 

4. It promotes a healthy diet 

Being in contact with the plant world and having a small vegetable garden or some fruit trees can be very beneficial for your diet. On the one hand, taking care of them will make you appreciate this type of food much more and increase the amount you consume, which has a direct impact on your health. On the other hand, it will make your diet more sustainable, because a part of it will be coming from your own crops.  

5. It increases self-esteem

Having a project of your own, like taking care of a garden and observing the fruits of your labour (quite literally) every day, increases your self-satisfaction and self-esteem. With a bit of dedication and consistency, your garden will become a beautiful place where you can feel proud of yourself. Try it out!    

6. It improves your mood

In addition to increasing your self-esteem, it can help you have a much more optimistic and positive outlook on different circumstances of life. This has been proven by various studies, which have shown that people with depression who dedicate several hours a week to gardening improved much more than those who didn't. In fact, there is such a thing as horticultural therapy, which aims to improve mental health.  

7. It improves your memory 

The fact that gardening reduces cortisol levels doesn't just reduce stress; it also improves your concentration and learning capabilities. All of this translates into benefits for your memory. 

In addition to the benefits of the decrease in cortisol, the activity in itself also involves putting different processes into practice, which are very beneficial in keeping the brain active. Therefore, it is a very comprehensive activity for training your memory.  

8. It promotes rest

Another effect of reducing stress levels and increasing physical activity is that night-time rest can be significantly improved. On the one hand, this is because it provides us with a comforting feeling at the end of the day and, on the other hand, because we will be more tired physically and it will be easier to fall asleep.