Gardening is much more than just an entertaining hobby, it’s also an activity that can improve your health. Here are some of the lesser-known reasons why gardening is good for your health:

1. Burns Calories

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that gardening for one hour can burn around 330 calories, which is more than you would burn weightlifting for the same amount of time. If you’re trying to maintain or lose weight, consider adding gardening to your daily routine.

2. Reduces Stress

Researchers in the Netherlands conducted a study with two different groups of students that were asked to complete a stressful task. At the end of the task, one group was told to garden for 30 minutes while the other was told to read. The group that gardened reported lower levels of stress than the group that read, which shows that gardening is an effective way to reduce stress. If you decide to garden in order to relieve stress, make sure you create a simple garden that will be easy to maintain.

3. Improves Mental Health

Another study asked people who had been diagnosed with depression, or bipolar II disorder to spend six hour a week gardening. At the end of the study, the majority of the participants reported a significant improvement in their depression or bipolar II disorder symptoms. This study shows that gardening may have the power to improve mental health as well as physical health.

4. Lowers Heart Disease and High Blood Pressure Risk

People who are overweight, inactive, or under a great deal of stress are at a higher risk of suffering from heart disease or high blood pressure. Fortunately, gardening can help you maintain a healthy weight, stay active, and relieve stress. This means that gardening on a regular basis can prevent heart disease, high blood pressure, and other similar health conditions.