Retirement comes with its own perks. You have more time for family and friends, as well fulfilling all of your dreams of having your own garden.
But plenty of seniors have misconceptions about gardeningand believe that it’s something that only young people can do. This couldn’t be further from the truth!
There are plenty of benefits for the elderly when itcomes to gardening. While you don’t have to go all out, growing your own food and flowers is rewarding.
With that in mind, here are a couple of benefits of gardening for the elderly:
It Reduces The Chances Of Having A Stroke
Routine physical activity like walking and gardening can do wonders for your health. But did you know that gardening can also help reduce the chances of having a stroke?
Not only that, it’s been proven to be helpful or people who have suffered from a stroke. Studies shows those who exercise enough have a 54 per centlower risk of dying.
Moreover, gardening helps improve mobility. It willhelp keep you on your feet and get the exercise you need every day.
It Lowers Blood Pressure and Stress Levels
Gardening helps reduce cortisol levels which alleviates stress. In one study, researchers divided individuals into two groups and asked them to read forthirty minutes and then do a little bit of gardening. The gardening group showed a greater decline in cortisol levels than those who read for thirty minutes.
Moreover, the gardening group’s mood improved,whereas, the ones who read experienced a further decline in their mood.
It Releases Serotonin
Gardening helps produce serotonin. Studies show it helps reduce anger, boosts self-esteem and mood, and improves mental health.
This is perhaps why the whole “horticulture therapy” has become popular in recent years.
These are just a few reasons why the elderly should take up gardening. Besides the health benefits of gardening, growing your own food and flowers is something to feel proud of. In her book, Gardening for the Soul: Grow Your Fruits, Vegetables, and Inner Self by Katerina Koehlerova captures the essence of gardening perfectly. Katerina helps new plant parents tackle some of the most common problems new gardeners face. Shealso teaches the basics of gardening and focuses on educating new plant parents about the different types of plants there are in the world.
If you want to learn more about gardening and where to start, we recommend you purchaseKaterina Koehlerova’s book on Amazon today!
