Gardening can burn thousands of calories, making it seem like a form of健身 rather than physical activity. A physiotherapist, Kieran Sheridan, suggests it might actually be a workout, but success depends on the tasks you undertook. For example, planting, watering, digging, and even raking leaves takes time and energy, just like a gym workout. Kieran explained that gardening can burn 300-400 calories per hour, similar to walking. However, success often depends on the task type. Tasks like raking leaves or mowing lawns are less intense, while digging flowerpots or fencing bags is more calorie-heavy.
Gardening can be as ‘(‘ound as a gym workout, depending on what you do. A 10-pound person burns about 260 calories per hour on a treadmill walking at 3.5 mph, but this increases to 680 calories per hour if you use a higher walking speed like 6mph. Kieran argues that gardening engages various muscle groups, including the arms, buttocks, abdomen, back, and legs, which is similar to how exercise burns calories and operates on different tissues.
To counter-weight the benefits of gardening, Dr. Alexis Missick encourages switching between tasks. Instead of focusing solely on fertilizing a garden, you should try other activities like mowing lawns, pulling weeds, or specialty planting. This keeps your body working harder and prevents overwork like gardening, which can cause cramps or muscle strain. Additionally, gardening mimics exercise in many ways, such as stretching before it, which builds strength and reduces the risk of injury and muscle strain.
Gardening isn’t just about munching leaves and blooming flowers—it’s about building strength and power. Dr. Missick also noted that gardening and exercise both contribute to heart health and lower your risk of heart disease and stroke, as well as reducing dementia risk. Over time, gardening can also help with cardiovascular health by improving blood flow and reducing LDL cholesterol. By being active outside, you can enjoy the benefits of working out while enjoying the outdoors. If you’re into gardening, let us know how you’re doing—Laurenaughf@reachplc
