20 WAC Magazine | wac.net
Nutrition
Pilates
Jaw Health
Exercise of the Month
Living Fit
By Eric Chen,
WAC Nutritionist
Spring brings
a perfect blend
of sun and rain
to the Pacific
Northwest,
making this the
ideal time to start a garden. For anyone
looking to add some great nutrients to
their diet, a simple herb garden will
Herbal advantages
Dig the benefits of growing and eating herbs
do nicely.
I oen recommend herbs to clients
for three reasons:
Herbs are easy to grow and
require minimal maintenance.
Herbs offer many health benefits.
Herbs deliver flavor without salt,
fat or sugar.
Before we discuss some of my favorite
herbs, an important note: Gardening is
great for the soul no matter what you
grow. e effects of long-term gardening
have been studied widely and include
reduced cortisol levels, decreased risk
of dementia, improved gut flora, and
increased mobility and blood flow. Plus,
just by planting your first seedling, you
are exposed to great soil-based organ-
isms, such as Mycobacterium vaccae, a
good bacteria that can increase the re-
lease of serotonin in the brain and boost
your mood.
1
2
3
Gardening exposes you to great soil-based organisms, such as Mycobacterium
vaccae, a good bacteria that can increase the release of serotonin in the brain and
boost your mood.
u
