According to experts from the University of Colorado at Boulder, by gardening people add physical activity to their lives and at the same time start to eat more fiber, which makes gardening an effective cancer prevention. Also, socializing with other gardeners can help reduce stress and anxiety levels. More about this, the scientists told in an article in the journal Lancet Planetary Health.
Earlier research had already demonstrated the possible health benefits of gardening, but these were observational and did not allow for a causal relationship – conversely, it has not been ruled out that healthier people tend to be interested in gardening. For the experiment, the researchers invited 291 volunteers with an average age of 41. Half of them received a plot, seeds and seedlings as part of a nonprofit landscaping program, as well as an introductory horticultural course. The other half acted as the control group.
All participants in the study wore activity recorders and also periodically filled out questionnaires about nutrition and mental health.
After six months, the gardeners were eating 7% more fiber than the control group. Physical activity increased to 42 minutes per week, and stress and anxiety levels dropped significantly.
The researchers explain that lack of physical activity, unhealthy diet and high stress levels are factors that increase the risk of cancer. Not everyone manages to consciously monitor their diet, activity level and mental state, so such projects can be useful as a means of cancer prevention in the population, especially among low-income citizens.
Source: Gazeta
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