It might be surprising, but gardening is a great way to stay healthy. Here are some top tips on how gardening can help you this spring.
Though we might not usually think of it as a form of exercise, gardening is actually a very good way to stay fit and healthy.
How gardening can help you
Evidence shows that you can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer by being physically active on a regular basis. This includes any activity such as gardening, which can be done for ten minutes or more that makes you breathe harder and get warmer. You should aim for around 150 minutes a week of this type of activity. However, this can be divided up into 20 minutes a day or 30 minutes five days a week as you prefer.
Our corporate partner, Town & Country, has produced a range of pink gardening products to help you get out in the garden and get moving. Their products are not only practical, but will also keep you stylish. Check out their top tips to help you make the most of spring:
1. Get moving and get warm
By making sure that you’re working up a sweat through exercise, you can not only keep your weight down, but research has shown that this type of exercise has seen improvements in reducing your risk of heart disease. In preparation for summer, shrubs and bushes need extra attention, so putting the work in early is beneficial to promote new growth for your garden. It is important to use sharp secateurs which will provide a clean cut, reducing the risk of fungal diseases in the plant to ensure that it can grow healthily.
2. Gardening regularly
Weeds can grow quickly at this time of the year so keep on top of them by regularly hoeing between them as required. Again, by doing this task often, you will be able to promote good health in many other ways as it can reduce your risk of diseases such as diabetes, stroke, osteoporosis and other cancers such as bowel cancer. It can also improve your mood and reduce symptoms of depression.
And don’t forget your gloves! The latex coating on these Bamboo Gloves helps protect against thorny bushes and brambles, whilst providing excellent grip, breathability and dexterity.
3. Other activities to get you moving
Other gardening activities to be done this month include sowing bedding plants and vegetables, digging over soil to give it a new lease of life and planting hanging baskets. Being physically active on a regular basis, you may be able to improve many aspects of your of health and wellbeing, as well as improving some of the symptoms of cancer and the side effects to treatment, including anxiety, depression, Lymphoedema and fatigue.
With so many jobs to do outside, all your tools can be kept to hand in this handy Gardening Pouch which has three pockets and can be worn over the shoulder or around the waist.
This can help you keep moving whilst not having to worry about your tools.
These tips were kindly provided by our partner Town & Country. These products carry a 10% donation to Breast Cancer Now, so now’s the time to get active and spruce up your garden. Shop the collection.
For other items that carry a donation to Breast Cancer Now, check out our Breast Cancer Awareness Month charity products.