Gardening: Unexpected hobby of long-livers
How gardening contributes to longevity (photo: Freepik)
Exercise is crucial to staying healthy. The researcher stated that people who live the longest are more likely to garden. This is associated with reduced stress and increased movement, says 64-year-old American researcher Dan Buettner.
Why gardening is good for your health
Dan Buettner is an experienced researcher of the world's rare "blue zones," where residents are 10 times more likely to reach 100 years of age. He argues that people who live the longest are more likely to garden, linking it to reduced stress and increased movement.
"After 20 years of looking at the world's longest-living people, I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that the best physical activity there is gardening. Because it's a range of motion, your stress level goes down, you get slightly winded. And because you planted these vegetables and you want to see them grow, and you want to eat them, it gives you an impetus to do it every day, to water, weed, and harvest every day," the expert added.
Physiotherapist Kieran Sheridan said that working in the garden can burn a surprising amount of calories. You can burn about 300 calories in just 45 minutes of gardening.
Potting plants for an hour can also burn 200-300 calories. This targets many muscle groups through physical activity such as planting, watering, even digging, and lifting fertilizer bags.
Kieran explained that gardening involves numerous muscle groups, including the glutes, abdomen, back, legs, and arms.
It is necessary to stretch first to build up strength before gardening, as well as to avoid cramps and fatigue.
Brain health and osteoporosis prevention
Regular gardening has many benefits for brain health. In particular, it is an excellent therapeutic tool for people with dementia.
Osteoporosis is a condition in which a person's bones weaken, and lose mass and strength, putting them at greater risk of fractures. Spending time in the garden can reduce the risk of developing this condition.
@danbuettner Gardening is the ultimate longevity hack! It keeps you moving with low-intensity, full-range-of-motion activities like digging, bending, and carrying—plus, it’s a major stress reliever. After studying the world’s longest-lived people for 20 years, I can confidently say: the BEST physical activity is gardening. Why? Because it’s something you’ll keep doing. Plant your garden, care for it daily, and enjoy the reward of fresh veggies. And when it comes to longevity, if it’s not something you’ll do for a long time, forget about it. Garden today, and we’ll see you when you’re 100! #BlueZones #Longevity #gardeningforlife original sound - Dan Buettner
Earlier, we reported on the six main Chinese secrets of a long and healthy life.
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