You’re likely aware how factors like diet and exercise can affect the likelihood for longevity—but a study in recent years concluded that among individuals who lived to 100 or beyond, a huge commonality was a regular gardening practice. Of course, few people take up gardening just for the sake of living longer, so the lifespan benefit is usually a fortunate byproduct of the earthy hobby.
Deborah Benzil, MD, FACS, FAANS, Cleveland Clinic vice chair in the department of neurosurgery, lists a few reasons that could explain this observed effect. “First of all, it gets you outdoors,” she says. The vitamin D you can get beneath a sunny sky provides a number of benefits: boosted immunity, a more diverse gut microbiome, and sharper memory as just a few possibilities. Taking physical activity outdoors has also been shown to reduce stress (which is helpful to both long-term heart and brain health), promote greater psychological well-being, and inspire more regular movement.
According to Dr. Benzil, the second benefit is that “it’s really good exercise.” Blue Zones research has shown that the core, in particular, gets solid work from activities that involve repeated sitting on the ground and rising; not to mention the leg muscles that also come into play with balance (and therefore help prevent falls). Much of our motion originates from the core, so the stronger it is, the more mobile and resilient is much of the musculoskeletal system and our capacity to balance. Recent research also found that individuals who could rise from the ground without much support generally saw lower heart and cancer risk.
“Third,” says this neurosurgeon, “you get your hands in the dirt, and you can see the products of the flowers or the herbs or the vegetables that you’ve planted.” Such foods are likely to comprise a diet rich in nutrients and variety—but, Dr. Benzil seems to have an even larger point. A recent survey found that a sense of satisfaction in one’s accomplishments and purpose was the biggest variable that led older individuals to report experiencing a high quality of life in ways that can counter feelings of loneliness and depression.
If you decide to dig in to this passion, newer research has found one plant wielded major power in cleaning up air quality. Plus, the previously mentioned centenarian lifestyle research above suggested that Southern Italians who gardened between one and four days per week were the ones who saw the most notable lifespan benefits.
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