With the influx of cities and apartment living, not many people have the opportunity to spend time relaxing in their gardens. It used to be a common activity for people to enjoy gardening, tending to flowers and spending time in nature, but many people claim that they no longer have time for it. Something that may change your mind about gardening is that it has great benefits for your health, especially for women. Psychologists are encouraging women to spend more time gardening this spring and summer to support their hormone balance. Spending just half an hour outdoors each day can naturally help control levels of the stress hormone cortisol and improve sleep. Why Do We Need Gardening For Hormonal Health? Hormonal health and managing stress have become popular topics, especially on social media, with cortisol being a major focus. Psychologists say there are many ways to lower cortisol, but one simple and free method is spending more time in the garden. According to Colombia Center for Community Health chronically elevated stress levels contribute to health conditions like obesity, heart diseases, high blood pressure. Gardening helps relieve your body of cortisol. Can Gardening Help Us In Other Ways? According to a UK publication, ClinMed 2018, our health isn't just about medicine; it depends on things like our social lives, our money, and the environment around us. You don’t always need medication or extra treatments to better your health, there are many alternative therapies. One promising set of therapies involves "green care" – being around plants and gardening. Research has shown that simply looking at nature can improve our mood and mental well-being. Studies in Japan found that viewing plants can reduce stress, fear, anger, and sadness, and even lower blood pressure and heart rate. A groundbreaking study showed that hospital patients with views of plants and trees felt better, needed less pain medication, had fewer complications after surgery, and stayed in the hospital for less time. Similar benefits have been seen for dental patients and even during medical procedures like bronchoscopies. Many studies in the UK and other countries agree that having more green spaces, especially those with a variety of plants and animals, is linked to less depression, anxiety, and stress, even when considering other factors like poverty. In Japan, more green space has been linked to longer lifespans. Access to green spaces also seems to reduce health differences related to poverty. While these links don't prove cause and effect, and some studies disagree, it's likely that the benefits of green space go beyond just exercise and might involve better social connections. Can You Maximize The Benefits You Get From Gardening? Spending time in your garden can have different effects depending on the time of day. According to a 2019 study published in the Springer, natural light helps regulate our circadian rhythm, improving sleep quality, while exposure to green spaces has been shown to lower cortisol levels, reduce stress, and enhance mood. Even short bursts of outdoor time can have immediate benefits, such as reduced stress and improved cognitive function. Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation explains how being outside during mid-morning to early afternoon enhances alertness, mood, and cognitive function. Experts explain that even if the sun has gone down, minimizing light exposure during this time helps prevent sleep disturbances and maintains a healthy wake-sleep cycle. Gardening allows for interaction with plants and herbs that have potential therapeutic properties. The calming effect of being surrounded by greenery can contribute to overall well-being.