“Of course we’re doing this on the hottest day of the year” my husband joked as he was digging the last few holes to transplant our native prairie plants. “Yet…” I reminded him, “hottest day of the year, YET!” I had been looking forward to this day for a while; a chance for us to spend some quality gardening time together. Not only was it a chance for us to be together doing something we both enjoy, it was relationship and health building time. I’ve long known about many of the health benefits we can get from gardening, but imagine my surprise when, paging through Better Homes and Gardens later that day, I found a health article noting that we get beneficial bacteria from touching dirt!
It’s been common knowledge around my household for a while (I even posted a great video about it not too long ago), but I wasn’t expecting this information to be so wildly mainstream as Better Homes and Gardens for quite some time! The article, Tummy Talk, by Beth Howard is in the June 2015 issue and is focused on gut health as the path to good health. I couldn’t agree more, and was thrilled to see this info being delivered to millions of people across the country! The best reference I could find was 7.6 million subscribers to BH&G in 2013; that’s a lot of magazines going out spreading this message.
Lilies are one of my favorite flowers, thanks to my health inspiration, my Great Grandma Catherine! (Though she preferred daylilies.)
We have long known many of the benefits of gardening and nature. Studies have reported that hospital patients heal faster and need less pain relief simply by having a natural view out their window versus hardscapes. Improved mood, greater immune function and better test scores by school children are just a few of the other benefits to nature exposure (often measured by gardening) that have been documented in research. I hope that for most people, these things feel instinctual, that it feels good –and right– to be outdoors, to be in touch with nature. There are so many benefits to gardening, it should have its own infomercial! But wait, there’s more!
Here’s where it gets really impressive. As I casually mentioned in my list of 5 Top tips to Celebrate Earth Day physically touching soil imparts beneficial microbes, which make their way into our bodies and can eventually improve our bacterial balance in our guts. It really takes guts to be healthy; or better it takes a good balance of beneficial gut bacteria to be healthy. Approximately 80 to 90% of our immune function comes from the gut, and if that is out of balance, our immune system won’t function as well as it could. Don’t believe it? Sounds wacky, I know, but there is much research behind this! We are learning more by the day about different strains of these microbes which keep our systems in balance. There are even strain specific probiotics that can be take to help relieve sinus congestion and seasonal allergies! Metagenics is a company that I trust and has their own medical research staff. They report that the L. plantarum HEAL9 and L. paracasei 8700:2 strains have been clinically proven to support nasal, sinus and respiratory health. Did you ever think your intestines would relate to your nasal health?
I could go on and on about the benefits of different probiotic strains, and I probably will in the near future, but I’m trying to focus on gardening here! The point is that simply by getting out there and playing in the dirt a bit – even if that means gardening in pots – you are doing your health a big favor! Avoiding dirt, using antibacterial soaps and unnecessary antibiotics can all throw off our natural gut bacterial balance – which can mean a lot more than an upset tummy. For our respiratory health, immune function and even healthy serotonin balance (most of our serotonin is created in the gut, not the brain!) WE NEED DIRT! This is more compelling evidence that we need nature in our lives to achieve our greatest health.
My terrific trio in their sunflower stand!
Recently, a dear college friend posted a photo of herself with her lovely beau and their freshly planted garden in the background. I commented “the couple that plants together, grows together (pun intended)!” Whether gardening helps you connect with nature or loved ones, that connection is all part of the human experience which helps us become our best selves too. Gardening, oh gardening, how I love all your benefits! There’s not much that makes me happier than sifting through soil and spying my kids gleefully plucking a fresh carrot out of the ground and gobbling it right up. You can easily find studies that confirm family dinners are good for kids, and I’m willing to bet that family gardens would prove even more beneficial at keeping kids healthy, out of trouble and creating strong relationships with family! That is, if there’s not already research out there – if you know of some, please let me know and send me links! For me and my family, we’ll stick with our living laboratory, “The Back 4” as we call it, no spreadsheets or analytics needed. It feels right and good. Plus, it’s a great bonding experience for all of us.
They taste the same, but my kids really get a kick out of purple carrots!
Did you think I was going to tell you about the numerous benefits of freshly grown, local produce straight from your garden? Think I was going to go on even more about earthing or grounding? Well, add those to the list of reasons to garden, but we’ll save those stories for another day! With so many benefits, today’s assignment for your Wildly Grounded Health Revolution is simply GET GARDENING! If your thumb isn’t exactly green, just get out there and play in the dirt a bit. Even a potted plant or just a rock garden will get you in touch with those beneficial bacteria. Your guts, and the rest of your body, will thank you! Show me a picture of your garden or comment with your favorite thing to grow. Happy Planting!