June 29, 2026
Whether you have a green thumb or are just getting started with gardening, growing your own food has many health benefits. Although Colorado’s dry climate does come with some challenges, growing an edible garden promotes a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Let’s dig into some of the health gains of gardening:
Improve your nutrition
What better way to help you consume more fruit and vegetables than growing it on your own! Having a garden makes it easy to include fresh produce in your meals and snacks. Fruits and vegetables are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, including folate, vitamin C and potassium. Additionally, they are a great source of one’s dietary fiber needs. It’s recommended that adults eat five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, specifically three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruits according to the updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Increase exercise
Gardening can be a great form of exercise. From digging to raking and hauling bags of mulch, one can burn a significant number of calories on a busy gardening day.
Reduce pesticide use
Growing your own fruits and vegetables provides you the control over what chemicals and pesticides touch your produce.
Help reduce stress
Many people are aware of the benefits of being outside and experiencing the joy of nature. Spending time outdoors promotes mental health and stress reduction. Gardening helps people connect with nature.
Regular fruit and vegetable consumption decreases many risks of developing chronic disease. A garden is a highly effective approach to increasing your fresh produce intake. Whether through community gardens to home gardens, growing your own food promotes a healthier lifestyle.