Want to live longer? Garden something

[packman]

Why gardening could help you live longer

1. It gets you into nature.

Exposure to sunlight, fresh air and plant life all have health benefits. In fact, doctors in Scotland prescribe “nature walks” for high blood pressure and anxiety. They also encourage patients to interact with the surroundings, whether that means bird-watching or collecting twigs.


2. It’s good exercise.

Is gardening the equivalent of running a triathlon? Of course not, but it still qualifies as exercise. Different types of gardening require different amounts of physical activity.


3. You’ll eat what you grow.

This benefit won’t apply if you only grow decorative plants such as flowers and shrubs. But if you grow fruits and vegetables, as folks in the Blue Zones do, you’ll gain the health benefits of adding these items to your daily diet.


Not only will you be eating more plants, you’ll also get more nutrition from them. Most fruits and vegetables lose 30% of nutrients three days after harvest due to respiration — a natural process by which they continue to “breathe” after they’re removed from the ground. (If you buy produce in a supermarket, there’s a high probability it was picked several days earlier or even longer.)

In terms of reducing the time between harvest and consumption, nothing beats pulling a berry off a bush and popping it into your mouth, or tearing off lettuce leaves to prepare a salad. Plus, it tastes a lot better.

4. It exercises your mind, while also relieving stress.

Most of us spend our work lives planning and problem-solving. Gardening requires these skills, too, but it also forces you to be in the moment, often by confounding the plans you made.

No wonder so many mindfulness experts consider gardening as a form of meditation.


More detail:

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/29/people-who-live-100-longer-share-this-hobby-longevity-experts-say-it-can-add-years-to-life.html

As for me - two or three tomato plants in a tub of dirt, a few basil plants and a rosemary bush does the job

[fleur-de-lisa]

1. IDK . . . During August in New Orleans

I think gardening IS the equivalent of running a triathlon.

Ninety degree heat at 7:00 am with 90% humidity. After about half an hour, I'm usually drenched in sweat.

[Kaleva]

2. The stress of dealing with all that zucchini isn't healthy.

[packman]

3. So true

Once was part of a community garden and no one wanted zucchini after a week - BTW the community garden was a one year deal and I blame the zucchini for it.

[mitch96]

5. And don't get me started about the melons!!!!!! nt

[Mariana]

8. There's a very simple solution to that problem.

Don't grow zucchini. You'll get plenty of it for free, from all those other gardeners who grow 10 times more zucchini as they need.

[Kaleva]

11. I have 4 plants but I'll be more prepared next year if i plant the same number.

[onethatcares]

10. what you can't eat or give away

can be turned back into nature by composting adding another dimension to gardening.

[Demsrule86]

12. Zucchini has been a 'bitch' lately. We got none last year....this year a few but it is looking

better since cooler weather has hit.

[samnsara]

4. i live in perpetual shade and if theres a forest fire in the state i have NO sun all summer..

...as Im deep in a canyon. ....and this year I have one tomato on a four ft plant and i think its got rot on it. I finally got a counter top Aero garden which gives me something to look at each day. I just finished up all the herbs and now i just planted cherry tomatoes and a few more herbs. I love having dill and basil grow in the kitchen.

[Mariana]

9. There are some veg that grow pretty well in shade.

Tomato is not one of them.

[Bayard]

6. Love my gardens!

Even when they don't look like it because I've gotten behind on weeding.

Getting tomatoes and melons now, along with plenty of herbs. I refuse to plant zucchini.

[brooklynite]

7. Mosquitos...