Japanese are known as people who have a long life. The average life rate of the world’s population was 73.2 years in 2020. Meanwhile, the average life expectancy of the population in Japan is 88.09 years, much higher than the global average.
In Okinawa, Japan has many people who are 100 years old or more. To find out the secret to the longevity of the people there, researcher Dan Buettner goes to this island. Buettner found that the long-lived people he studied had a common hobby, namely gardening every day until old age. The hobby of gardening turns out to contribute to making people healthier, happier and ultimately making them live longer. Here’s the explanation:
- Gardening brings you closer to nature
A doctor in Scotland has prescribed a ‘walk in nature’ for the treatment of high blood pressure and anxiety disorders. Nature is restorative, aka heals our minds.
- Gardening is part of the sport
Gardening requires physical activity that has the same benefits as exercise. “Working in the garden trains agility and strength, and that exercise burns the same number of calories as expended in the gym,” according to Richard Thompson, a researcher at the Royal College of Physicians London.
- Gardening relieves stress
Being active in the garden and spending time in nature can relax the mind and relieve stress. People who gardened recovered from stress much faster than those who didn’t, according to the results of a test that measures the levels of the “stress chemical” cortisol in their bodies.
- You can consume plantation produce directly which is healthier
If you grow fruits and vegetables, you can eat your own garden produce which is fresher than vegetables and fruit from the supermarket. Most fruits and vegetables lose 30% of their nutrients three days after harvest due to a natural process, in which fruits and vegetables continue to ‘breathe’ after being removed from the soil.