Green therapy, buffalo chicken salad, and more! ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
| Gardening: Scientifically Proven to be Good for You |
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I’ve always admired people who could maintain a lush garden, whether that’s a vegetable garden supplying a surplus of zucchini and cucumbers in the summer or bountiful flower beds that attract pollinators and fragrance the yard.
As true gardening enthusiasts will tell you, gardening is so much more than just maintaining the yard (a task so many of us perform grudgingly). It’s the sun on your shoulders, the nurturing of seedlings, the thoughtful honing and pruning of a creative vision, the witness of a living, growing force. It’s a labor of love and, for many, a show of true artistry.
An older neighbor of mine (with the greenest thumb I’ve ever seen) always tells me gardening is “good for the soul.” Although I don’t have an ounce of the talent she does, I’d have to agree. Science backs my neighbor up. Gardening is also good for the mind and body in ways we might not expect. It can lead to Measurable drops in the stress hormone cortisol Better mood Increased physical activity and energy Consuming a healthier diet Higher self-esteem Possibly greater life satisfaction More longevity When researchers surveyed Taiwanese adults about their attitudes toward horticultural activities, five distinct themes emerged:“increasing positive mood, improving the environment, leisure belief, improving social relationships, and escaping.” That last one is interesting, I think. Far from being seen as a chore or obligation, gardening was a leisure activity, a way to get away from the stresses of everyday life. Then there’s the dirt itself… Oh, the lovely, rich soil. Gardeners and grounding enthusiasts, you know what I’m talking about. The sensory pleasure of soft, cool soil crumbling between ungloved fingers. The physical, primordial delight of digging and absorbing oneself in the earth. In the midst of that dark, nitrogen-esque smell, you’re kicking up some potent Mycobacterium vaccae bacteria, known to stimulate serotonin-releasing neurons in the brain. Dirt, the natural antidepressant—literally. We could all use a little more dirt in our lives, I think. But That’s Not All Gardening is a deeply sensory experience, and I think it touches something innate in the human spirit—the need for nature, to be sure, but something else as well. We evolved knowing the land. We developed an intimate connection not with nature as a concept but with the specific land that nurtured and challenged us. Knowledge of our terrain was power—for foraging and survival. When we devote ourselves to gardening, I think we recreate that close association, that intimate understanding of the land, that raw, unsentimental mixing of earth and effort. It’s an endeavor so different from our everyday lives in this age. An escape, indeed. |
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| Game-day appetizer meets crisp, refreshing veggies and tangy Ranch Dressing in this delicious Buffalo Chicken Salad topped with classic Buffalo chicken. |
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| On this episode of Health Coach Institute podcast, Lisa Fraley blends her legal expertise with her health coaching know-how to help thousands of heart-centered entrepreneurs protect their businesses and brands. |
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| Primal Kitchen Caesar Dressing & Marinade delivers the classic taste you love, with high-quality ingredients like organic egg yolks, organic apple cider vinegar, and savory herbs and spices. It reigns supreme in wraps, drizzled on romaine salads, or sizzled on chicken. |
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Mark's Daily Apple 1101 Maulhardt Ave. Oxnard, CA 93033 |
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