Gardening has many benefits for everyone especially seniors. It encourages physical movement and lets your mind relax therefore promoting overall physical and emotional health. Adding this hobby to your list can enhance your lifestyle greatly and make you healthier.
If you are finding it hard to maintain your plants or are having troubles with your garden, you can always hire professional gardening services Bondi from Amico to help you. Below are some of the top reasons why seniors should do gardening.
- Promotes Physical Activities
Whenever a person is immersed in gardening, they never realize how much exercise their body has been doing until they become tired. Thirty minutes of gardening includes almost all physical activities that are good for seniors such as lifting, squatting and pushing. The wide variety of physical movement you exert makes it a healthy form of strength building and aerobic exercise. However, always make sure never to overexert yourself or go beyond your limits and to stay hydrated always. If your garden is too big to handle or you are feeling a bit under the weather, you can always hire the reliable gardening services Sydney from Amico to help you from time to time.
- Natural Source Of Vitamin D For Your Body
Sunshine contains vitamin D which has many benefits especially for the metabolic and skeletal health of the body. Gardening allows you to spend time under the sun and to synthesize the vitamins naturally into your body. However, always remember that too much of everything is bad for you. Always wear sunscreen to protect yourself from burns, stay hydrated by drinking lots of water and to used brimmed hats so that you can enjoy soaking in sunshine vitamins without compromising your well-being.
- Boosts Your Mood And Reduces Stress
Several studies have proven that gardening reduces stress and depression because it reduces the production of a hormone called cortisol which is mainly the cause of a person’s anxiety. Also, the soil that we touch as we garden also contains healthy bacteria that acts as an antidepressant. Gardening can also elevate your mood and make you feel positive through consumption of your home-grown organic produce.
- Promotes Social Opportunities
One of the main purposes of community gardens is to provide a space for interacting and meeting with new people and old friends. Working together in beautifying the garden and making fresh produce helps nurture mental and physical health since it allows you to socialize. Studies have shown that people who have good social relationships live longer than those who are always isolated in their homes. So start gardening and make your lifestyle healthier.
image courtesy: amico.com.au
Final Word
Gardening can be very beneficial especially to elders. However, always keep in mind to use caution and avoid overexerting yourself so that you can enjoy its benefits fully while avoiding possible risks along the way. For example, work early in the morning when the sunshine is still not harsh for your skin, and use raised beds and trellises for plants so you won’t need to stoop over often and prevent back pains or injuries. You can also place benches or chairs in your garden so you can take periodic rests, use lightweight tools that have softer grips and build a nonslip path to avoid accidents in the future.