The Surprising Health Benefits of Getting Dirty: Why Garden Soil Is Good for You

This Month Earth Medicine would like to feature the lovely guest writer Carrie Spencer from TheSpencersAdventures.net who is sharing her thoughts on how getting dirty in the garden can actually be super beneficial for your mental health! 

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Have you ever noticed how good it feels to get your hands dirty in the garden? Interacting with soil can have some surprising physical and mental health benefits. Here are some unexpected ways that garden soil can improve your health.

Support Immunity

Garden soil is teeming with beneficial bacteria and fungi, which can play a role in supporting immunity. Research shows that exposure to these microbes can help protect against infections, including respiratory illnesses and gut diseases. Garden soil contains high levels of lactic acid bacteria that promote gut health and prevent the growth of harmful pathogens. Spending time in your garden can expose you to these beneficial microbes and help boost your immune system.

Improve Heart Health

Research has shown that gardeners have a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease than those who don't garden. Soil contact helps reduce inflammation throughout the body and can improve heart health. Gardening can reduce stress levels and blood pressure, major risk factors for heart disease. Tending a garden requires regular physical activity, such as raking, watering, or weeding, which can help maintain a healthy heart. So whether you're planting a few flowers or starting a vegetable garden, you're also doing your heart a world of good.

Boost Your Mood

Gardening can also positively impact your mental health. Studies have shown that spending time in nature can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Doctors prescribe spending time in nature, sometimes referred to as vitamin N, to their patients to improve their well-being. Numerous studies have shown that spending time in nature can lower cortisol levels and improve mood. So next time you're feeling stressed, consider heading out to the garden for a dose of nature's best medicine and enjoy the healing power of gardening. You may find that you feel better and that you're more pleasant to those around you.

Additional Benefits

Not only is gardening a great hobby, but it can also benefit you in other ways, such as increasing the value of your home. If you're planning on selling your house soon, keep track of any outdoor improvements you make. Save receipts and take before and after pictures to help you prove how much your home's value has increased.

Small changes, such as planting some flowers or trimming the hedges, can make a big difference. If you're looking to improve your home's value, consider picking up a shovel and getting started on your garden. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

• Choose a location. Make sure you have space for the type of garden you want and choose a spot that gets plenty of sunlight.
• Prep the soil.Before you plant anything, make sure the soil is loose and rich in organic matter to help your plants thrive.
• Pick your plants.Choose plants well-suited to your climate and soil type, and consider how much sun or shade they'll need.

Get Your Hands Dirty

From improving your mood to boosting immunity, getting your hands dirty can do wonders for your health. You can make gardening a part of your routine, even if you don't have a green thumb. Visit Earth Medicine USA to learn how to grow a garden that thrives.