How Gardening Can Improve Your Health

How Gardening Can Improve Your Health

Yes, digging in the dirt is good for you! 

When it comes to good summer activities, you can think of walking, hiking or jogging. But there is another popular hobby that has many benefits, and an added bonus: gardening. Even if you don’t have the greenest thumb, there are many benefits to digging and planting a few health benefits, both physical and mental. And this bonus? You exercise and get a basket of tomatoes, peppers or many other fruits, vegetables or ornamental plants.

But some people think that gardening can damage your body, like your spine. But don’t worry. Find out how gardening is right for you and tips to help you get started. 

How good is gardening?

The health benefits of gardening are extensive and work towards one important goal: preventing osteoporosis. 

Prevention of osteoporosis 

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become harder, lose mass and strength, and put them at risk of fracture. Affecting more than 50 million people in the United States alone, it affects people over 50 and affects women more than men. Our bones also tend to soften as we age, which can make them more prone to fractures and breaks. Although these bones can cause a fall, if the soft bones become stronger, you can get such a fracture, especially in the spine, just by coughing or bending over. A healthy diet combined with other factors can help fight osteoporosis. And gardening meets many of these criteria. 

Vitamin D 

First, you have to leave. You breathe this fresh air and you cover the sun which promotes vitamin D. It is important to get regular, unprotected sun exposure a few times a week to provide your body with essential vitamins that make bones strong and help your body absorb calcium.

Weight-bearing exercise

Everyone knows that exercise is good for your health, but gardening provides the perfect balance, especially for people at risk of osteoporosis: it not only gives you exercise that can strengthen your bones, but also easy exercise for people of all ages. When you exercise in the pool, you get cardio and strength work, but you don’t get the bone. When you’re gardening, you’ll get this boost through weight-bearing exercise like walking and using your gardening tools. You use these muscles in some way to move both the bones and the muscles.

It is the best form of exercise, he says, to prevent softening of the bones. 

Brain health 

Regular gardening has many benefits for brain health. Although many studies have focused on how gardening can be a good therapy for people with dementia, some studies also show that gardening is one of the many activities that can prevent dementia. 

Mental health benefits 

Gardening also has some mental health benefits. In addition to the emotional boost that comes from being outside in the fresh air, you feel a sense of satisfaction when you see your plants growing and growing. Gardening gives you the opportunity to be satisfied in the mind because you see the flowers, you smell the fresh garden and you can bring your fresh vegetables. You see progress and feel a sense of accomplishment. 

It can also provide opportunities for social interaction, whether you are in your garden or a community park. Once you enter your yard, you will see your neighbors or other people and have the opportunity to interact.

Gardening is a great way to socialize during the worst of the pandemic, when social distancing is essential. People in their fields maintain social relationships, a good way to communicate with others at a time when face-to-face is very limited.

Gardening Tips

Gardening Tips

Although gardening is easier on the body than running or climbing, that doesn’t mean you can’t take care of yourself and know some tips that can help you have a better experience. Realize that gardening is exercise. Whenever you start a new exercise program, you want to make sure you’re doing it right.

Tips: 

  • Start slowly. Start with a short term and progress to a larger, longer term.
  • Make your scale manageable. Do not try to dig large objects or carry large objects at once.
  • Use proper equipment. Make sure your scissors and shovel are sharp and even have a knee pad.

Stretching

Although you may not think that stretching is necessary for gardening, it absolutely is. Stretching and warming up your body before you start helps to relax the muscles for the activity you are about to do, including bending and digging.

Stretching afterwards is just as important, if not more so. Take the time to do a good deep stretch for 10 to 15 minutes, especially for your upper and lower back. These areas are under a lot of pressure during farming without proper alignment and stretching, you can damage your spine. If you have back problems, consider a high bed so you don’t slouch down too much, putting pressure on your spine and back muscles.

Recovery 

Of course, even with the best preparation, pain is still possible. Taking care of yourself afterwards should not be underestimated. Stretching is still the best thing to do, but the occasional use of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, is fine as long as they don’t cause other health problems. Using ice can also help reduce pain immediately afterwards. If you are still sore after a few days, you can continue with the heat, but start with ice. Finally, once again, don’t forget to stretch. Continue to stretch every day because you want to loosen sore, stuck and stiff muscles. Stretching allows these muscles to relax and return to their original position.

And with your muscles properly stretched, you’ll be ready to plan your next garden trip, enjoying the glory of the great outdoors.

The Best Gardening Apps

The Best Gardening Apps

It’s never a bad idea to bring more plants into your life.

Caring for plants can be daunting, but luckily, we can get a little help from technology. To help you be a good gardener or plant parent, we’ve found the best tools to make the process easier.

Whether you’re starting a windowsill garden, buying a house, or planting in your yard, these tools will help you understand how to care for your plants and remind you to care for them. There will be no dead wood in the watch with these tools.

1. LeafSnap 

LeafSnap uses artificial intelligence to identify plants. It can now identify 90 percent of all known plants and trees. You can take a photo or upload a photo of a plant to the app, and it will tell you how to grow it, the light and water it needs, and much more.

2. Smart Plant Home

Smart Plant Home is an all-in-one gardening app. The most important thing is the healing process. Once you add a plant, the app maintains a schedule that reminds you to water it or perform other tasks based on the plant. This can be useful if you are cutting wood. There is also a troubleshooter, which allows you to solve problems related to plant diseases and pests. If that doesn’t work, you can send photos of plants and plant diseases to botanists around the world through the app. 

3. iNaturalist 

iNaturalist is a social network created by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic. Like LeafSnap, iNaturalist is a plant identification app, but it also identifies other species like birds and insects. When the app can’t detect a tree directly, it tags the image and a community member can identify it. Can also choose to leave the photos and video you download and this application uses scientific purposes. Another tender side of the app is a famous card that shows you the specified form of the area. 

4. Planter 

Planter help you organize your garden. You choose the size of your plot and you can then add trees. When you choose a plant to add, it tells you information such as the depth at which the seeds will be planted, how long it takes to bring them, and how much water they need. It also tells you which types of plants are friendly plants and which are resistant to common plant diseases.

5. Sun Seeker – Tracker and compass 

Sun Seeker is a complete solar tracker. It can help you follow the sun in your garden to choose the best place for your plants based on the type of light they need. 

6. Planta

Planta is the perfect tool if you are just starting your garden or plant journey. Planta will give you plant advice and care reminders for your plants. It also has a light meter that allows you to determine the different types of light that your home or garden has. Unlike Smart Home Plan, Planta organizes your plants by location.

7. Terrarium Garden Idle

If gardening isn’t for you, but you want to get in on the hype, Terrarium Garden Idle is the perfect game for you. Terrarium Garden Idle is an idle game where you have plants that produce oxygen and allow you to buy more plants.

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