As you grow older, your immune system can get weaker. Unfortunately, it is a natural phenomenon linked to a variety of factors, including lifestyle choices you’ve made in the past. Someone who has maintained an active lifestyle is likely to struggle with muscle and joint pains in old age. Similarly, unhealthy choices, such as smoking, for example, can lead to health complications. The first thought that comes to mind when hearing about smoking is lung cancer. However, without going to these extreme cases, smoking can put your dental health at risk as it increases gum sensitivity and threats. Smokers also can struggle with a slow wound healing process, which can turn minor ailments into serious health concerns. In other words, you can already influence today whether your old age will be a healthy experience.
Admittedly, this doesn’t mean that making mindful choices in your life will guarantee that you can grow silver without any health concern. On the contrary, the aging process can weaken your body, causing a natural loss of bone density and muscle strength, for example. Therefore, the choices you make as a senior can also prevent further damage and weaknesses to your mind and body. There is no miracle solution: We can’t stop the aging process. But we can focus our energies on positive choices and hobbies that support our health, such as gardening.
Alleviate heavy medication with plant remedies
Your garden is a portal to health. What you may not realize is that you can use the plants you grow in your backyard to support your immune system. Relying on strong medication, such as antibiotics or painkillers, can create a tolerance so that the body gets used to it. In the long term, pharmaceutical medications may not trigger any immune reactions when your body becomes insensitive to the ingredients. A lot of plants have medicinal properties and can encourage the natural healing process in your body. Did you know that basil can reduce the risk of liver diseases such as cirrhosis thanks to its hepatic support and antioxidants. Parsley, on the other hand, reduces oral and dental infections and supports healthy digestion.
Provide an essential sense of responsibilities
Growing old can make you feel isolated from society. When you’ve stopped working, you can wrongly develop the feeling that you don’t have anything to contribute anymore. A lot of seniors worry that they lose their worth as individuals when they retire. Unfortunately, this could be a typical response to retirement. You can find new ways of creating new responsibilities that give meaning to your retirement lifestyle. You don’t need an office to have responsibilities. That’s what your garden can do for you. Keeping animals, such as keeping chickens in your backyard can be a new adventure that keeps you engaged and active. Chicken need care and attention every day, so they offer an excellent replacement for the work routine. You can stock healthy poultry food, such as Little Peckers, to make sure your chickens get all the nutrients they need. Building a chicken run outside with a coop and a fenced area guarantee they can have plenty of space to roam freely. Like in an office job, you can measure your performance, by monitoring how happy your animals are! Keeping chickens alive and content is not only rewarding, but it provides people with a healthy sense of purpose.
Everybody loves gardening
Gardening can be a time-demanding hobby, which is why it is a favorite for retirees. First of all, it offers a sense of routine that can keep you grounded after spending many years working in an office environment. While the routine with gardening is dictated by seasons and weather, it offers a therapeutic environment that brings you closer to your “roots” and nature. Yet, don’t assume that gardening is a passive activity. It ensures that your body can stay strong, working both upper and lower body muscle groups. It is a moderate exercise, which is accessible to all fitness levels. Yet, a lot of people can burn just as much calories gardening as they would going to the gym!
Reduce stress levels
Being surrounded by nature, even if it is only in your garden, can reduce your stress levels. Gardening encourages mindfulness in nature, so that you can appreciate green time to the fullest. Indeed, outdoor activities expose you to direct sunlight. Spending time outside yelp replenishes your vitamin D levels, which stabilizes your mood. Additionally, research also shows that the presence of vegetation energizes the mind, keeping the depressive mood at bay. More often than not, gardening is a hobby that finds its way into the busy lifestyle of active professionals. However, the sudden absence of high-paced work environments for retirees can be a source of stress too. Don’t assume that stress doesn’t affect seniors! It does and can weaken your immune system dramatically!
Make something beautiful
Art is good for the mind. While gardeners are not artists, many fall in love with the idea of designing a bright and vibrant yard, filled with flowers, green trees, and fragrant bushes. Gardening is a way of turning Mother Nature into a piece of art. Many gardeners think of it as a method to “paint” the backyard, creating colorful accents. Yet, unlike canvas painting, garden art evolves with the seasons and requires constant care. Your art is alive, and it fills you with joy.
Encourage social behaviors
Social isolation is one of the biggest threats in old age. A lot of people lose a lot of friends and social interactions when they retire. Yet, isolation can turn into a health threat for seniors as it drives depressive behaviors. But when you begin to look after your garden, you spend a lot more time outside the house. It can encourage you to interact with your neighbors, even if it is only across the fence. Gardening creates new bonds in the community, helping you to make new friends.
Gardening is a hobby that is filled with positivity, regardless of how old you are. For seniors, however, gardening can offer a new take on the aging process. It provides health-boosting energy, both for mental and physical health. Staying healthy in old age begins with a pot of flowers and a small garden fork.
