Grow Healthier: UK Study Backs Home Gardeners

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A recent U.K. study revealed that growing vegetables and fruits at home appears to lead to eating a healthier diet and increased food security.

A 2023 study by the University of Sheffield reveals what avid gardeners have long suspected. Those who grow their fruits and vegetables positively impact their dietary habits and food sustainability.

The United Kingdom-based researchers tracked home gardening families for over one year. They observed their gardening processes, eating, sharing, and the wasted produce volume.

4 Study Findings

Here's what they learned about the habits of the home gardeners:

1. Self-Sufficiency in Produce: Home gardening households produced a reasonably large portion of their fruits and vegetables. The researchers noted how these families grew about 51% of their vegetable needs and 20% of their fruit requirements annually.
2. Increased Consumption and Health Benefits: The gardeners ate an approximate average 6.3 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, surpassing the UK's national average of 3.7. This higher intake makes strides toward reduced risks of chronic diseases - obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
3. Reduction in Food Waste: Home gardeners had a noticeable efficiency in food utilization, wasting only 0.12 portions daily. This rate is significantly lower than the average UK household. In fact, it translated to a whopping 95% reduction in fruit and vegetable waste.
4. Enhanced Food Security and Community Sharing: The study observed a food sharing and preservation trend among home gardening households. Participants often donated surplus produce to neighbors. Also, they often preserved excess fruits and vegetables for future use - a key factor in community food security.

Implications for Policy and Future Directions:

The findings underscore the potential of home gardening to boost dietary health and reduce food waste. Dr. Zilla Gulyas from the University of Sheffield's School of Biosciences emphasizes incorporating home-grown food strategies into national policies. This approach could address challenges in ensuring access to healthy food, adapting to environmental changes, and enhancing the resilience of food systems.

This University of Sheffield's study revealed what many avid gardeners have long thought - that home gardening has several benefits. These may include promoting healthy eating habits and contributing to sustainable food practices and community well-being. As if those of us who garden didn't already know.

Randy Tayloe is a lawn care and gardening expert and the operator of Tayloe's Lawn Care Service, LLC, in Aulander, NC. You can connect with him on Facebook or LinkedIn for additional gardening and lawn care tips.