Doing certain activities become more difficult as one grows older. However, aging individuals should not see this change as something negative. Rather, they should see this as an opportunity to try new things. With the assistance of home care, elderly people should try various activities and find their passion.
One thing that aging individuals can try is gardening. Planting vegetables, fruits, and flowers can help improve your health especially as you grow older. In fact, here’s a list of the numerous benefits of gardening:
FORM OF EXERCISE
It is important to keep yourself physically fit as much as possible. Even as you age, you should make it a point to work out regularly as this can help reduce the risk of developing different diseases. It can also help you control your weight, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure.
Gardening can serve as a form of exercise for older people. You’ll definitely work up a sweat since this activity involves moving your arms and legs regularly. Sometimes, exercising can be boring. With gardening you can work out while having fun!
PREVENTS OSTEOPOROSIS
Osteoporosis is a condition that affects the bones, making them so weak and brittle that even the simplest of actions ‘ such as bending down or sneezing ‘ can result in a fracture. This disease affects anyone although women are more likely to develop this disease.
One of the ways to prevent osteoporosis is by exercising. People who spend most of their time immobile are at a higher risk of contracting this disease. Exercising, such as gardening, will help keep your bones strong. Moreover, gardening involves staying under the sun especially during the mornings. This will allow you to get the right amount of vitamin D which can also help prevent osteoporosis.
PROMOTES RELAXATION
Do you know that spending time surrounded by nature is therapeutic? Horticultural therapy is a form of therapy where you immerse yourself in nature. This helps reduce stress and promote relaxation.
According to some studies, letting yourself be enveloped by nature’s embrace can help your body react better to stress. Walking around your garden in the afternoons will bring you a sense of calm, allowing your body to relax and your problems to slip away. Reducing stress with the help of gardening can help boost your immune system and enhance your mood.
SOURCE OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD
Gardening will not just keep you physically fit, help you prevent osteoporosis, and reduce stress. This activity can also help you acquire nutritious food! Instead of purchasing fruits and vegetables in the market, you can just grow them in your garden. This way, you get to work out and get healthy foods for free.
Organic foods are free of preservatives which can damage your health. And as you grow older, you should include more organic foods in your meal plans so as to avoid developing diseases and to keep yourself healthy.
Don’t let your age hold you back from trying out various activities, such as gardening! But before you go and pick up a shovel, remember that there are a few things to consider like existing health conditions and adjusting gardening tools to make them easier to use.
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