Have you ever felt a rush when you step outside on a beautiful day? How does it make you feel when you walk into a lush green garden or grove of trees? Does the bright blue sky make you feel happy and free? Do you feel a sense of delight when you are at a lake or at the ocean?

The mental and physical health benefits of being outdoors are far-reaching, and the warmer weather of spring is now inviting us to step out of the house and get moving. Being outdoors is one of the most effective health and stress control mechanisms. Listening to the birds and breathing in fresh cut grass stimulates many pleasant emotions that release endorphins.

Grow a Garden: Be Healthier and Feel Happier

Studies show that those who grow gardens eat 15 to 20 percent more fiber, and fiber is critical for gut health. Vegetables are better tasting and healthier from your own garden because they are completely natural and are not genetically modified in any way. Growing your own food can save money and at the same time, help you to get in an extra sixty minutes or more of exercise per week. That may not sound like a lot, but every little bit helps.

Gardening uses many different muscle groups and can boost your fitness level. Moving, bending, digging, carrying, and walking while gardening allows your body to utilize oxygen better and can reduce the risk of heart disease, cancers, and metabolic disorders.

If you can’t grow your own garden, look for a community garden. Community gardens can be mentally and emotionally beneficial because they allow people to meet others and gather socially.

Anytime you are outdoors, you have the advantage of absorbing natural vitamin D rather than taking supplements. Make sure you get out in the morning or evening to reap those benefits without risking skin damage.

Here is another benefit of gardening: recent studies indicate that certain dirts create healthy microbes and healthy microbes produce healthy plants that, in turn, produce healthy animals and humans. When plants and dirt decompose, they release heat that triggers a chemical reaction that actually improves immunity to bacteria just as a fever in humans is a means of protection and immunity. This heat neutralizes the disease process and is a natural part of the ecosystem.

Additionally, when soil gets on your hands, it can cause your body to produce more serotonin, which is the pleasure neurochemical that makes you feel relaxed and happy. Gardening can be one of the best activities for health. It helps you to feel present in the moment. It helps your mind wander from the humdrum of daily life and lets your brain relax. Let your garden grow, create more oxygen, and get healthier!

For Better Health, Take Up Walking This Spring

Simple walking improves how well your body utilizes oxygen. Oxygen consumption is a big determinant of metabolism, and who doesn’t want to improve metabolism? Oxygen is crucial for the human body: it is essential in order for cells to produce energy by breaking down food and allowing all bodily functions to occur, including muscle movement; metabolism and calorie burning; thinking; all brain activity; digestion and gut health; and general maintenance of vital organ function. All organs in the body rely on oxygen to perform their tasks, so put on your walking shoes, hit the trails, and breathe the fresh, spring air deeply!

Oxygen comes from the process of photosynthesis, where plants and trees on land and algae from the ocean (phytoplankton) use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar, releasing oxygen as a byproduct. Oxygen is abundant as long as we take care of the environment from which it comes. Interestingly, most oxygen comes from the ocean, but our land environment is also critical. Taking care of our land by planting more trees, gardens, and grassy areas is crucial for the oxygen supply.

Oxygen consumption and the efficient use of oxygen in your body are not optimum when you are in a city with tall buildings or when you spend most of your time indoors. Getting outside is important for your health. Walk, mow the lawn, trim the trees, go on a hike, or bicycle. Whatever you choose to do to be active, take advantage of the warmer temperatures of the beautiful southern Utah spring weather. 

Whether it is walking in your neighborhood, tending your garden, going on a good long hike, or just working in your backyard, the great outdoors supports emotional and mental well-being, physical health, and medical health. Get outside, move, and breathe the oxygen your body needs to survive to live a healthy, long life.