The gardening It is a relaxing and pleasant activity, which also provides other benefits to our health.
The technique has therapeutic benefits and is able to promote healthy eating, the use of medicinal plants and environmental awareness. So many positive points, right?
The indoor urban gardening refers to the practice of growing fruits, vegetables, herbs or flowers in urban areas. That is, it is not necessary to have a large garden or much space to practice it.
And now, a recent study published in the journal Environment Internationaland carried out by Finnish scientists, highlights that the exposure to microbes through urban gardening he is able to strengthen the immune system of those who practice it.
Urban gardening improves immunity
The collaborative study between the University of Helsinki, the Natural Resources Institute of Finland and the University of Tampere showed that a period of a month of indoor gardening increased bacterial diversity on the skin and was associated with higher levels of anti-inflammatory molecules in the blood.
This was observed in people in the study group who used a growing medium with a high diversity of microbes, similar to soil found in forests.
Mika Saarenpää, lead author of the study.
The other group of people who gardened used peat moss for planting, which is a microbe-poor soil. No changes were noted in their skin or blood. The mob It is the most used culture medium in the world; However, according to research, does not provide health benefits similar to those of a medium that mimics various forest soils.
“The findings are significant as urbanization has caused a considerable increase in immune-mediated diseases such as allergies, asthma and autoimmune diseases, generating high healthcare costs. We live very ‘cleanly’ in the cities”commented Saarenpää.
The study showed, for the first time, that significant and natural human activity can increase microbiota diversity of healthy adults and contribute to the regulation of the immune system.
The gardening activity provides a series of mental health benefitshelps the development of personal skills, new learning and improves cognitive development.
“We still do not know how long the observed changes in skin microbiota and anti-inflammatory cytokines persist, but If gardening becomes a hobbyit can be assumed that the regulation of the immune system will be more and more continuous,” commented Saarenpää.
Other benefits of gardening
Several studies have already shown that the traditional gardening practice It provides other health benefits. Taking care of plants is like a escape valve against the pressures and stress of everyday life. See below for the other benefits of this practice:
- Improves mental health;
- Reduces anxiety;
- Reduces stress levels;
- Improves memory and cognitive function;
- Improves motor activity;
- Stimulates creativity and visual memory.
Additionally, gardening-related tasks such as digging, planting, and tending can help improve the cardiovascular and respiratory health.
Sources and references of the news:
Saarenpää, M. et al. Urban indoor gardening enhances immune regulation and diversifies skin microbiota — A placebo-controlled double-blinded intervention study. Environment International, v. 187, 2024.
