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A Bone to Pick with You....

I've said my permanent good-byes to winter; I'm ready to jump into outdoor gardening with both feet. Longer days, warmer weather; I've waited for months. Time to put the gardening magazines aside and head for the garden.

Why do we garden? We can talk for hours about the many reasons. Perhaps for you, it's the great satisfaction of freshly harvested lettuce for dinner. Or the roses that cascade over your front fence during the months of May and June. For me, it's the earthy smell and feel of warm soil through my fingers.

Have you thought about your bones today? I must admit, I never gave this much thought until recently. Perhaps the following will give you energy to tackle your gardening plans with stronger passion.

A research team at the University of Arkansas did a major study to determine if there was any correlation between gardening and healthier bones. You'll like what the study found: women (over 50 years of age) that regularly gardened showed greater bone density than those that did not. Low bone density puts you at risk' for osteoporosis. Imagine: regular yard work could prevent osteoporosis. The study reminds us to not lose sight of: maintaining a healthy diet and body weight (including refraining from drinking and smoking). It's about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and you're never too young to start!

Spending time in the garden has other benefits: a sense of satisfaction; fresh air; sunshine; stress and tension release. I've said and heard many others say, that gardening is a great form of therapy. I have friends that jog every day; I've never seen a jogger sporting a big smile as they're pounding the pavement. I smile when I'm gardening. Back to 'real exercise'? I am not disciplined enough to put aside time each day to jog or exercise on the treadmill. But I always have time to be in the garden. It's a matter of priorities.

So as I nurture my garden, I'm also doing good things for my head and my bones. Double-digging for the new perennial border, pulling out those persistent weeds and hauling the hose around my yard is looking better and better.