Bonitas Member Magazine 2018 - B-Living Issue 1 | Page 17

Make sure you sleep well Burn some kilojoules Spending time gardening every day can help you sleep better. The physical activity required in gardening will get you worn out and when you’re tired, you tend to sleep, earlier and for a longer period of time. Another reason why gardening improves your quality of sleep is its ability to reduce stress. When you’re calm and at peace, you will have less trouble falling asleep. Gardening can be a great workout too. In fact, one hour of gardening can burn up to 1 255 kilojoules. That’s the equivalent of 35 minutes of jogging. This definitely shouldn’t come as a surprise, as depending on what kinds of projects you are tackling in your yard, you could be squatting, lifting, digging, or covering a fair amount of distance walking. Maximise kilojoules burnt by mowing the lawn, raking vigorously and doing a few squats while gardening. Remember, the total number of kilojoules burnt will depend on your weight, metabolism, gender, age and muscle content too. Keep your mind sharp Gardening improves your brain health and provides significant stimulation for your brain. According to researchers, gardening also promotes learning, problem solving and sensory awareness. Avid gardeners have improved concentration and enhanced ability to recover from mental fatigue. Breathe in the scents and smells Scent researchers found that a chemical released by a newly-mowed lawn can make people feel joyful and relaxed. The aroma may also prevent mental decline as you grow older. Smelling floral scents also seems to put us in a good mood and makes us feel less anxious. B-Living Issue 1, 2018 Take your nutrition to the next level Gardening is not just a fun physical activity, it also helps you with making healthier food choices. It’s easier to prepare meals that are healthy and good for the body when you have fresh vegetables, herbs and fruit in your garden. When you grow your own food, good nutrition follows. You appreciate and savour the food more, because you know how much effort you put in to get it to the table. As an added bonus, the food is also organic and free of chemicals and pesticides. Page 16