A study conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado has concluded that gardening can improve health. The American Cancer Society-funded study demonstrates that gardeners increased their fiber intake and physical activity.
Both of these are thought to lower the likelihood of developing cancer and other diseases. Additionally, those who gardened saw a decrease in anxiety and stress levels.
Senior author Jill Litt, a professor in the Department of Environmental Studies at CU Boulder, said in a statement, “These findings provide concrete evidence that community gardening could play a vital role for protect cancer and mental health condition disorder.
Before this study, it wasn’t clear if gardening has an effect on health or if only healthy people like to garden.
From the Denver metro area, 291 non-gardening adults with an average age of 41 were recruited for this study. More than half of the respondents belonged to low-income families, and more than a third were Hispanic.
After the last spring frost, they were put in charge of a community gardening group and given tools and an introduction to gardening course. By the fall, they had increased their level of physical activity and were eating more fiber.
The study’s findings were published in the journal Lancet Planetary Health on January 4.