Gardening May Decrease Cancer And Benefit Mental Health

A recent study by the University of Colorado Boulder revealed that the right diet of fiber, physical activity, and gardening may lead to lesser stress levels and a higher probability of decreasing cancer.

The American Cancer Society conducted its first randomized, controlled trial on a gardening community with factors such as high fiber intake and physical activity. The three constants showed the selected trial had a higher health score.

Jill Litt, senior author and professor in the Department of Environmental Studies at CU Boulder said, “These findings provide concrete evidence that community gardening could play an important role in preventing cancer, chronic diseases, and mental health disorders." She shared her input after the study results came out.

Litt's focus was on getting better well-being for patients with lesser income. Gardening is a relatively cost-effective way to release tension provided the right nutrition and some physical activity is taken.

So far precise scientific reasoning is missing. However, many centuries of passed-down wisdom also state that work done by hand lets the person release their stress.

In the study, groups were controlled with different environments and opportunities to garden. The set of people who were encouraged to garden not only increased their fiber intake but also had an improved exercise level. Their medical journey was improved. This made one more finding positive about community living. Linda Appel Lipsius, the executive director of Denver Urban Gardens (DUG), said “Even if you come to the garden looking to grow your food on your own in a quiet place, you start to look at your neighbor’s plot and share techniques and recipes, and over time relationships bloom." This means that practicing with people in nature and planting together can make health better!