An avid hiker and backpacker, Candace Breed also enjoys working in her home garden. Candace Breed grows a number of vegetables and is working on a flower garden, which she is designing as a place for relaxation and rest.

1. HEALTH BENEFITS OF
GARDENING
Candace Breed

2. Introduction
 An avid hiker and backpacker, Candace Breed also
enjoys working in her home garden. Candace Breed
grows a number of vegetables and is working on a
flower garden, which she is designing as a place for
relaxation and rest.
Gardening offers benefits to both the body and the
mind. It is a tactile experience that connects a person
to the earth--a link often missing from modern life--
while providing natural stress relief. Researchers
suggest that spending time in nature can give the
brain a break while naturally focusing the mind and
promoting relaxation. Studies have shown that this
process can be helpful in reducing the risk of
dementia and in diminishing stress for people both
with and without cognitive decline.

3. Gardening
 Some scientists also believe that
mycobacterium vaccae, a bacteria that grows
naturally in soil, can increase serotonin levels
and balance the immune system. This further
helps to reduce symptoms of stress as well as
depression while potentially easing physical
pain and supporting medical rehabilitation.
The physical activity required for gardening
serves as a low-impact and motivating
exercise that keeps the body limber, while the
healthy foods grown in the garden promote a
diet richer in fresh produce.