Great news! Our gardens do more than keep our backyards looking gorgeous. Check out some of the mental and physical health benefits that come along with gardening.
Our friend bacteria
Meet your new bestie: Mycobacterium vaccae. And no, we can’t pronounce it either. But that’s ok. It’s the fancy (scientific) name for a bacteria that’s found in soil. It’s also a bacteria that can boost our immune system and increase serotonin in our brains. If you don’t know, serotonin is the stuff in your brain that makes you happy. So if you see us rolling around in the dirt tomorrow…no you didn’t.
Vitamin D
Now that the sun is back (sometimes), we’re taking any chance we can get – especially when it involves gardening – to soak in some rays. And not just because it keeps us warm. It also is a great source of vitamin D, which helps with bone health and immune health.
It’s more than delicious
Yes, fresh produce from your garden tastes amazing. But it’s also an easy way to get more vegetables into our diet. Veggies like legumes and beans can help fight inflammation, make you feel more regular, help with constipation and even help with chronic disease management. Good food and good for you? Sounds like a win-win to us.
Our mental health
If you’ve ever gardened before, you know how easy it is for plants to grab our attention. And when that happens, we’re less focused on the things in life that are stressing us out (except for when our plants are stressing us out). Gardening can be such a help for our mental health that Rutgers University even offers a certificate in Horticultural Therapy.
