Gardening For Health And Wellness

Improving personal health and wellness is one of the biggest reasons that people decide to create their own gardens, and one of the best ways to improve your health is to include some superfoods in your gardening plans. When it comes to the payoff, you’ll get from vitamins, antioxidants, and immunity protection, planting a few of these superfoods in your backyard is absolutely worth it.

1) Berries

Berries are an easy favorite if you’re looking for a fruit that, in addition to providing a sweet, tasty contrast to your garden full of veggies, is a superfood that provides all kinds of health benefits. The antioxidants in strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries prevent damage done by free radical molecules, which contribute to risk of cancer and heart disease. They’re also high in fiber, and a healthy dose of anthocyanin improves brain function. 

2) Spinach

This superfood is packed with nutrients like few other veggies, so it should definitely be on your list of possibilities if you want to use to your garden to boost your physical health. Load up on Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron and potassium with this leafy green that you can prepare in a variety of ways. Spinach is also helpful for bone health thanks to its calcium content.

3) Brussels Sprouts

Several cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, kale) can potentially decrease the risk of diabetes, Brussels sprouts included. They’re another vegetable rich in antioxidants, and they also provide a healthy dose of Vitamin K. They also have the potential to fight carcinogens, which cause cancer.

4) Cauliflower

Cauliflower is a great substitute for rice without all the calories and a popular weight loss alternative. It’s also high in Vitamin C, making it a reliable immunity booster. It also contains sulforaphane, an antioxidant thought to suppress cancer development. You can easily add cauliflower to your diet by roasting it or steaming it, and adding it to a wide variety of dishes and casseroles.

5) Sweet Potatoes

Similar to berries and other superfoods, sweet potatoes contain many antioxidants that fight against free radical molecules. Their fiber content also aids gut health, which is essential to a healthy immune system. They’re a pretty low-maintenance option for your backyard garden, and you’ll be able to prepare everything from mashed sweet potatoes to sweet potato fries.

There are also a ton of superfood herbs like turmeric, ginger and garlic that can spice up your garden and make for some fantastic home remedies against cold, flu, indigestion, and more. Other herbs like basil and oregano have their own health benefits as well, in addition to adding incredible flavor to your favorite recipes.