“Gardening is so much better than going to the gym,” the author and National Geographic Fellow said on Instagram.
The 63-year-old explorer and educator called the outdoor activity “the best exercise for longevity.”
Büttner became famous for his research into five “blue” zones around the world where residents live normal lives well into old age.
One of these regions, the Nicoya Peninsula, has one of the lowest middle-aged mortality rates in the world, according to the New York Times bestselling author.
“In the Blue Zones, almost everyone who is well into their 90s and 100s has not only gardened all their lives, but will continue to do so,” Buettner said.
Experts pointed to several reasons why, including that gardening is a “low-intensity physical activity” that involves “bending” and “a variety of movements”.
In his opinion, gardening is also a form of “nudge”.
He added: “When you have a garden and you plant things that you can't wait to eat, it motivates you to get outside every day and pull weeds, water and harvest.”
“I've seen studies that show gardening lowers cortisol levels and stress hormones. It's very likely that you're introducing microbiomes into your body by getting your hands dirty or wiping your mouth.”
@uktoday_ Love pasta? Dan Buettner has the good news for you #uknews #pastatiktok #pastapasta #uknewsheadlines ♬ Original Sound – UKToday 🇬🇧 Newsquest
“I would argue that gardening is far better than going to the gym and is the most effective exercise for longevity.”
Previously, Dan Buettner shared his advice on the three foods you should include in your diet to live longer.
He called on people to focus on Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula and three foods that play an important role in the region's diet.
Recommended reading
Nicoyans are likely to live well past middle age, and Büttner believes that's mainly down to “the best diet mankind has ever invented.”
“Their diet was comprised of three foods that I would say are the best diet ever invented by humans,” Buettner said.
The explorer continued: “Thanks to these foods, people living on Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula are 2.5 times more likely to live to age 92 than those living in the United States or Europe.”
