Notes From Youville: Gardening is a Great Way For Seniors to Reconnect with Nature

When we take the time to venture outdoors, especially after being cooped up all winter, it can feel like paradise.  A few minutes spent in a natural setting can be just the thing to revive our spirits and make us feel healthier all around. Even short walks outdoors improve cardiovascular health and balance. Exposure to the sun provides us with the Vitamin D we need to keep our skin healthy and our bones strong. Other outdoor health benefits include lower levels of stress and depression, a stronger immune system, improved memory and improved attention span. 

While a trip out to the harbor islands or the nearest state forest sounds nice, seniors may not often feel up to the task of such involved excursions.  When long outdoor adventures become impractical, gardening in one’s back yard can still provide a fulfilling sense of connection to nature as well as a great workout.  

Why Gardening?

Gardening is an ideal activity for seniors.  As a sustained, low-impact exercise, gardening promotes heart health while not being too strenuous. The light twisting and bending associated with weeding and shoveling can improve balance, strength, and flexibility.

A study in the Netherlands showed that gardening may be a more effective stress reducer than other hobbies. The study divided people into two groups: gardeners and readers.  After completing a stressful activity, the readers were asked to relax with a book for half an hour, while the other group took solace in tending their gardens.  The gardeners reported a lower level of stress after the activity and the researchers found lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their systems. 

Gardening may also have benefits on brain health.  Two studies tracked people in their 60s and 70s for a period of 16 years, and found that the people who gardened had less risk of developing dementia.  Separate studies have found that people with depression experience relief through gardening.

One of the most satisfying aspects of cultivating herbs and vegetables is the enjoyment of the final product.  These benefits are not confined to the physical activity of gardening. The benefits continue even as we enjoy the fruits (or vegetables) of our labor, in the form of valuable nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, and other health-promoting chemical compounds.  If you are new to gardening or have limited space, you might consider starting out with simple herbs. You can buy a variety of herbs at your local supermarket or garden supply store, and all you need to cultivate them is a pot of soil and a sunny area outside.

 Here is a list of some of the health benefits associated with commonly found home grown herbs:

• Peppermint–– A cup of peppermint tea can aid with digestion. When applied to the skin it can help relieve itching and sore muscles.

• Rosemary–– A member of the mint family, rosemary is not just delicious in food, but also rich in healthy antioxidants. Research has shown that rosemary can also protect against age-related cognitive decline and memory loss.

• Sage–– Another member of the mint family, sage is thought to play a role in improving memory, cognition and agitation in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Another study has suggested that essential oils derived from sage may also improve memory in younger adults.

• Lemon Balm–– Lemon balm has been used since the middle ages to calm nerves and dispel anxiety. It may also help improve mood and memory. 

• Valerian–– Valerian is most commonly used as a sleep aid. It is also useful for calming stress and anxiety.

As younger generations become interested in locally grown food, gardening is becoming as much a new fad as a healthy American tradition. Environmentally conscious young adults are finding that community gardens provide a healthy natural refuge from city life and a delicious and healthy alternative to processed foods shipped in from afar.  For baby boomers and seniors who grew up with gardens, the revival of urban gardens and locally grown food recalls the horticultural enthusiasm that began with the “Victory Gardens” of the 1940s.

This spring, consider getting involved in some form of outdoor gardening. Whether as a spectator, a consumer of fresh food, or an active gardener, participating in the food-growing process is a wonderful springtime activity and a great way to spend time outdoors.