The Natural Health Digest

JEANINE STICE

In 1990 a government study on America’s “Healthy Lifestyle Habits” showed a measly 3 percent of us were consuming three servings of vegetables a day and the huge majority of us — 85 percent — was not physically active.

With numbers like that, I’m still not sure why all the shock and awe came when America stepped on the scale in the new millennium and the majority of us along with our kids were packing too many pounds. Could the solution to this weighty matter be as easy as planting a backyard garden?

Recent research presented by the American Dietetic Association shows that families with vegetable gardens eat more fruits and veggies of a wider variety than families without gardens. The researchers’ conclusion: “Educational programs promoting awareness of local produce sources and facilitating the development of gardening programs may be a worthwhile investment.”

My conclusion: Programs are great but family gardens are better.

Evidence is mounting that chronic disease prevention begins with plants. That’s why the recommendation for fruit and vegetable intake has risen from five servings a day to as many as nine. Consumption of plant-based food is consistent with a diet lower in saturated fat, higher in specific micronutrients tied with disease prevention, and higher in fiber.

Gardening can promote a daily dose of activity along with food security. Recently I overheard a woman who grew up during the Depression relate that she never perceived her family could go hungry, because they always had a garden along with a few small farm animals.

That kind of self-reliance and self-sufficiency is exactly what Marion-Polk Food Share’s garden coordinator, Jordan Blake, encourages as he worked to nearly double the number of community gardens this spring to more than 10. Food Share, along with the city of Salem and community centers funded in part by Salem Leadership Foundation, are growing gardens. A garden can promote self-reliance and increase the availability of organic produce for neighbors and Food Share recipients.

The progressive housing development of Pringle Creek hosts a sustainable living center, which will include restoration of two huge greenhouses in the subdivision under the direction of James Santana, and it will partner with South Salem schools on garden projects. Willamette University’s in the loop with an Americorp volunteer working with Bush School to establish a school garden. And Marion County is gardening and selling garden starts through its “Fresh Start” program.

Just how could planting gardens change the health of the community? Look no further than the research conducted at OSU’s Linus Pauling Institute. Plant compounds such as antioxidants are being tied to the prevention of neurological diseases such as Lou Gerhig’s, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Compounds such as lipoic acid present in cruciferous veggies may affect vascular disease. And cholorphyll may reduce our cancer risk. Researchers even are finding that the plant-based compounds can change our genes.

Our Northwest gardening efforts continue to be deeply supported by our land- grant universities, even as traditional agriculture practices change. Washington State University established the nation’s first four-year degree in organic ag systems and added online classes this past spring. Oregon State University offers extensive support for professional organic farmers and community gardeners. OSU organic research is bringing new tools to farmers and community growers, providing many online and print materials to help the novice organic farmer who may have only mowed yards and planted marigolds up until now.

If you waited too long to seed your garden, then pick up some starts at “Fresh Start” and turn your soil into a salad bar. Mid-Valley soil leads the state in ag production. There’s nothing to fear, and perhaps your health to gain, by nourishing a garden this summer.

Jeanine Stice of Salem is the mother of three young sons, has a master’s degree in public health and is a registered dietitian. Her column appears every other Monday. Send e-mail to nutritionetc@comcast.net. Read her blog, A Slice of Life, at StatesmanJournal.com.

Source: StatesmanJournal.com