For you gardeners here. Be sure to click on the embedded link in the second paragraph also, "Health benefits associated with gardening..."
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Story at-a-glance

  • Health benefits associated with gardening include stress relief, improved mental health, better nutrition and exercise. Gardening actually counts as moderate-to-high-intensity exercise for both children and adults
  • Using a push mower instead of a riding mower can burn up about 300 calories. Other activities like raking, pruning, digging, planting and weeding can burn as many as 200 calories an hour
  • You'll want to spend at least 30 minutes a day gardening in order for it to provide a beneficial workout. Using manual tools rather than power tools will ensure maximum energy expenditure



By Dr. Mercola

Modern living tends to sever your connection to the natural world, and many are now starting to recognize just how important a connection with the land is for health and happiness.

Health benefits associated with gardening run the gamut from stress relief to improved mental health, better nutrition and of course, exercise.1 In fact, some suggest a revival of home gardening could improve the health and well-being of entire nations. According to a recent BBC article:2

"Pilot schemes for general practitioners (GPs) to prescribe gardening are under way, while school gardening projects have been set up to give children a peaceful space to relax in.

There are also community garden schemes where patients at GP practices work together to grow food, while studies have shown that exposure to gardens can have a calming effect in dementia."

Academia, public health and horticulture professionals also recently met at a health and horticulture conference in the U.K., where the discussion revolved around the role of gardening in the treatment of chronic disease.

Gardening Boosts Mental and Emotional Well-Being

Needless to say, fresh air never hurt anyone, and research confirms that spending time in nature can have significant mental and emotional health benefits. Depression is sometimes rooted in a feeling of being disconnected, and reconnecting to nature can help you reconnect to your own self and "life" in general...

More...

http://bit.ly/MercolaGardening