Karanja Njenga

Surprising health benefits of gardening We live in stressful times, and physical and mental well-being is something we could use in our lives. And something as simple as gardening can go a long way in boosting our mental and physical health. Yes, gardening is more than just eating fresh veggies and brightening your yard. It offers more health benefits that will surprise you. Boost your brain power with gardening Become the next genius Gardening sharpens and boosts your brain in multiple ways. Researchers have discovered that gardening improves your brain health significantly and reduces the risk of dementia by 36%. Another research discovered that gardening impacts brain nerve growth. If you love gardening, doing it regularly promotes skills such as problem-solving, sensory awareness and learning. Struggling with concentration? Do you want to improve your concentration and focus? Then look no further than gardening. Yes, gardening prolongs your attention span and increases your memory. Vegetable gardening, for instance, promotes memory by neuronal development and stimulating functioning of the cortical regions. Gardening is not just about getting your hands dirty and planting; it is a skill that requires concentration and, in return, rewards you by improving your cognitive skills. Keep physically fit with gardening. Boost your strength and hand coordination How much time do you spend on your computer or phone? If you are like most people, then the answer is "a lot of time." And that means you have most likely experienced some strain in your hands from typing or scrolling too much. Surprisingly, gardening helps you offset such strains and helps to hone fine motor skills and hand flexibility. The effects of a few minutes of gardening every day will surprise you the next time you go rock climbing. Let's burn some calories. Did you know 45% of people are trying to lose weight globally? The good news is, you can do this by gardening. Yes!!! That’s right. One hour of light gardening helps burn about 330 calories, which is more than what you lose if you walk for 1 hour every day. Next time you want to burn some calories, do some vegetable gardening and allow yourself to enjoy eating the food you have grown. Expert tips for gardening Whether you are new to gardening or not, you will realize gardening is fun and yet challenging. However, it can be very rewarding when you know affordable gardening tips and tricks. Fun tip: Next time you make eggs, don't trash the shells. Instead, spread them around the bases of your plants because they contain calcium which nourishes the soil. Additionally, they also repel certain insects, thus protecting your plant from some pests. Pro tip: You have probably heard that chocolate can boost your mood. True, but so can a juicy and sweet tomato!!! If you are planting some tomatoes in your garden, try sprinkling baking soda into the soil (not the plant). Baking soda is a base that neutralizes the acidity in the plant, giving you a juicy and delicious tomato. Keep track of improvement in your garden. If you are a regular gardener, then you have probably heard of keeping a garden journal. And while it helps you keep track of improvement in your garden, you will realize that such a record will also benefit the next owner if you ever decide to sell your home. There are many ways you can create a personal garden journal. Ideally, the most convenient one would be an online record with before and after pictures. Fun tip: A well-maintained garden could increase the value of your home by a whopping 5%. Gardening also brightens your home and offers an outdoor relaxing space that will attract many potential buyers. Conclusion Illusion When people think of gardening, the first thing that comes to mind is eating fresh veggies. But as we have seen, it does more than that. Gardening boosts your brain power and improves concentration. Whether digging, weeding, or harvesting, gardening is a gateway to burn calories and improve strength and hand coordination. So, let's get to gardening and remember, when you garden, it's not just the plants that grow but the gardener too. Image via Pexels