A new UAB study finds that home gardens may increase fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity among cancer survivors.
A new UAB study finds that home gardening can increase fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity in cancer survivors. Gardening is a great way to get outside and soak up vitamin D, while also enjoying fresh vegetables. Dietary guidelines recommend that adults eat two to three cups of vegetables daily to prevent obesity and cardiovascular disease and boost immune function, so eating enough vegetables is even more important for cancer survivors.
In a study published today in JAMA Network Open, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, in collaboration with researchers at Auburn University, found that growing vegetables improves the health of cancer survivors. Harvest for Health is a clinical trial conducted in Alabama among 381 cancer survivors ages 50 to 95 who were at high risk for chronic disease because they consumed fewer than five servings of vegetables and fruits and engaged in less than 150 minutes of physical activity per day.
The initial study began in August 2013 in Jefferson County and expanded in January 2017 to include participants in 26 additional counties across Alabama. In this study, participants were randomly divided into two groups, one to begin the trial immediately and the other assigned to a waiting list to begin the trial the following year. Each participant received one raised bed or four growing boxes with seeds, gardening tools and recipes to start their home garden. Certified Master Gardeners from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System served as mentors, providing biweekly instruction on planning, planting and caring for the garden. Research staff at UAB measured the survivors' strength, balance and agility, and collected biospecimens and data on vegetable and fruit intake and physical activity.
Dr. Wendy DeMark Warnefried
Photo: Lexie Kuhn “Our results show that survivors increased their vegetable intake by about one-third per day,” said lead researcher Wendy DeMark Warnefried, PhD, professor in the School of Health Professions and Webb Endowed Chair in Nutritional Sciences. “We also found that survivors experienced significant improvements in motor function, subjective health, and gut microbiota compared to the delayed intervention group.”
Cancer survivors are a vulnerable population who are at much higher risk of developing second cancers, heart disease and diabetes. They age faster and are more likely to become frail and lose their independence, said Demark Warnefried, a senior scientist at the University of Alabama O'Neill Comprehensive Cancer Center.
“Interventions that support healthier food choices, such as eating more vegetables, and provide more opportunities for increased physical activity are important,” she said. “We hope that other studies in different settings and with different populations of cancer survivors will evaluate the benefits of gardening interventions. In the meantime, cancer survivors should explore ways to cultivate their health, and vegetable patches are a good start.”
Read here how Harvest for Health changed one breast cancer survivor's outlook on life.
