Gardening isn’t exactly an extreme
sport, but that doesn’t mean you
shouldn’t take a few precautions.
Consider these pointers from the
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and other experts:
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◗
Wear proper clothing and safety
gear when using machinery or
tools. This can include long pants,
sturdy shoes and goggles. Gloves
can protect your skin against ir-
ritants, cuts and contaminants.
◗
◗
Slather on a broad-spectrum
sunscreen with a sun protection
factor (SPF) of at least 30.
◗
◗
When using chemicals or garden
equipment, take time to read and
follow instructions and warnings.
◗
◗
To help avoid overheating, drink
water frequently.
◗
◗
Get a tetanus shot—most adults
need a booster every 10 years.
Bacteria that cause tetanus (lock-
jaw) can enter the body through
cuts and scratches.
Harvest Some
Good Health
When you
plant a garden, you’re
sowing the seeds of good health—
and the harvest is yours to enjoy.
Gardening gets you outdoors, and
it’s great fun to grow your own food
or tend to lovely blooms.
If the idea has been growing
on you lately, here’s another
incentive: Gardening can
help boost three important
areas of health—exercise,
nutrition and emotional
well-being.
G E T A W O R K O U T
Gardening activities—
including digging, shov-
eling and raking—can
help strengthen and tone
muscles. Plus, gardening
can help improve your
stamina and flexibility.
Watching your weight? You’ll
like this too: You can burn up to
300 calories an hour exercising
your green thumb.
C U L T I V A T E
A B E T T E R D I E T
Does growing a garden mean you’ll
eat more veggies? Studies suggest
that you will—and that you’ll enjoy
a wider variety, too, the American
Institute for Cancer Research
(AICR) reports. That’s good news,
since most of us don’t eat enough
fruits and vegetables, which
provide essential vitamins and
minerals plus beneficial fiber.
In addition to their nutritional
punch, fruits and veggies
contain disease-fighting
substances that may help
protect against some
cancers, according to the
AICR.
Sure, you can buy
nutritious food at the
supermarket. But it’s hard
to beat the pride and fresh-
ness gained from plucking
homegrown produce.
B R I G H T E N Y O U R M O O D
Gardening is a good way to relax,
and it may have a healing effect.
Somewhere between the rows of
tomatoes and squash, the stressful
feelings of the day might start to
fade away.
Additional sources: American Council on
Exercise; U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services
You can
burn up to
300 calories
an hour
exercising
your green
thumb.
CULTIVATE SAFETY IN THE GARDEN
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