Researchers from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville found that women 50 years and older who actively worked in their yards showed higher bone density readings than those who performed other types of exercise, such as swimming, aerobics, dancing, and jogging. It's taken for such a dainty activity. The study adds another weapon that women can use in the fight against osteoporosis. Given a choice, many older women in fact may prefer weeding a rose garden to pumping iron in a gym. The best thing about yard work is that so many people are willing to do it.
People have other motivations for gardening.
They take pride in a beautiful yard and pleasure in being outdoors. They'll probably continue to do it as long as they're able. All were 50 and older. Turner examined how often the women performed different activities, including yard work, calisthenics, bicycling, dancing, aerobics, swimming, jogging, walking, and weight training. Turner compared each activity to bone mass, finding that bicycling, aerobics, dancing, yard work, and weight training were linked to a higher level of mineral density.