Spring has officially arrived, which for many of you means it’s time to dust off the garden tools and start thinking about this year’s crop. Gardening is one of the best ways, for seniors especially, to not only ensure you get a regular dose of exercise, but to help maintain a healthy diet.
Did you know that weeding for 30 minutes could burn as many calories as a brisk 30-minute walk? Depending on what you’re doing in the garden, you could burn up to 400 calories an hour! Now you may not count calories, but there is little argument that being active on a regular basis helps to keep you healthy.
Even if you suffer from arthritis, you can still be an active gardener. If done correctly, gardening can even help relieve arthritic symptoms. Remember – gardening is just a series exercises and stretches disguised as an enjoyable hobby!
Here are a few tips to keep gardening fun and pain-free:
– use a low bench or padded cushion to keep pressure off you knees and lower back
– if bending is a problem, consider window boxes or pots that can be placed on a bench or table
– always wear gloves, not only to protect your hands from scrapes and dryness, but to keep finger joints warm
– if you have trouble gripping your tools, consider adding foam padding to the handles
– use a wheelbarrow or get someone to help with heavy lifting and transporting weeds and clippings to the compost
Exercise is of course not the only benefit to gardening. You’ll also be soaking up your daily dose of vitamin D — but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t also be protecting yourself. Hats, sunglasses and sunscreen are all musts when spending time in the garden. Especially if you’re on any prescriptions drugs — some can make you more prone to sunburn.
And if you’re a vegetable gardener, why not go organic? Think of all the fabulous, healthy vegetables you’ll be able to enjoy year round with the haul from this year’s garden. Instead of pesticides try some natural remedies, like beer for slugs, and instead of fertilizer, try diluter herbal tea. There are more natural pest deterrents and fertilizer’s out there than I have room to list here — try contacting your local gardening society, or pick up a country gardening magazine.
Speaking of local gardening societies — that’s just one more way gardening can be beneficial to your health. Even if you tend to garden alone, you can turn it into an enjoyable social activity, by joining a club, or even a community garden! Maintaining an active social life is one of the best things you can do for your health.
So get those garden tools dusted off and get out their and garden your way to better health!
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Tags: exercise, Natural Remedies
