Introduction

It is a known fact that Black women as a group tend to have a higher burden of chronic illnesses, which often result in an increased threat to our health, wellness, and longevity.  Effective approaches to preventative medicine are generally multi-prong, and a major focus is on implementing lifestyle strategies that look at our food intake, fitness, sleep health, stress management, and social connection.  But did you know that houseplants are powerful for promoting health, wellness, and longevity?

House plants have long been seen as a way to decorate and bring life and greenery to our interior space, but there is a significant amount of evidence that shows they can have an even more important impact on our health and wellness. The benefits of indoor houseplants vary, and evidence shows improvement of indoor air quality, reduction of stress levels, improvement of mood, and lowering of blood pressure. In addition, indoor plants can have an anti-aging impact on the health of our skin and brain.

6 Benefits of Houseplants
House plants have several benefits for our health, wellness, and longevity.

1. Breathe Better Air

Poor indoor air quality can have a negative impact on your health and may exacerbate respiratory issues and allergies. During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) and release oxygen thereby improving the quality of the air you breathe. Some plants, such as the snake plant has been shown in studies to be very effective CO2-converters. In addition, certain plants, such as rubber plants, peace lily, snake plants, and spider plants, play an important role in removing pollutants such as formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and benzene from the environment, making it healthier to breathe.

2. Help with Stress Management

One of the dangers to our health and longevity is chronic stress. Chronic stress can result in the release of hormones, including cortisol, that have been shown to be detrimental to our health and can play a role in promoting premature aging. Caring for house plants encourages mindfulness (as you are required to be present in the moment) and increases your connection to nature, both of which can have a positive impact on your mood and stress level. Caring for plants can be seen as a form of self-care as it provides a sense of relaxation and stress relief. In addition, specific plants such as lavender and Jasmin have been shown to have calming effects and help to promote relaxation.  Less stress is not only important to our health but is often also associated with a more youthful appearance.

3. Lowers Blood Pressure

In the same vein as the stress-lowering effects of plant care, evidence exists for the blood pressure-lowering effects of plants.  It is hypothesized that this effect may be because plants help to create a calming environment, but there is also the fact that plants release phytoncides (a natural chemical that has been shown to lower blood pressure). One meta-analysis showed evidence of a statistically significant lowering of study participants’ diastolic blood pressure.

4. Improve Brain's Health

As we age, cognitive decline is often one of our most dreaded concerns since it affects our concentration, focus, memory, decision-making, and ultimately, our ability to independently care for ourselves. As of this writing, there are very little treatments shown to have a significant impact once cognitive decline has set in, so most efforts are focused on prevention. Research has suggested that having plants in your environment can improve concentration, focus, and cognitive function. The mechanism is not understood, but it is believed that the lower stress, reduced indoor pollution, and mood enhancement associated with caring for plants may play a role in improving the brain’s health. 

5. Protect Skin Health

For the average person, great skin is often synonymous with youthfulness, radiance, vitality, and longevity. The typical approach to good skin health includes healthy nutrition, hydration, good sleep, reduction in sun exposure, and topical creams. But what about house plants? Well, as we age, our skin becomes less elastic, drier, and more prone to wrinkles. Certain house plants, such as the snake plant (previously mentioned) have been shown to provide a less polluted, more hydrated, and oxygen-rich environment that supports healthy skin. In addition, house plants such as aloe can have the additional benefit of being used directly on the skin to help promote healing and moisture.

6. Enhance Mood and Self-esteem

Caring for plants can give a sense of responsibility, accomplishment, and satisfaction as you observe the plant thrive and flourish.  There is something special about providing care to a plant and helping it achieve its highest potential.  With time, you can see progress in the plant and that achievement can help with self-esteem and self-actualization. In addition, caring for plants allows us to express our creativity around plant selection and arrangement which then helps to provide an esthetically pleasing environment leading to further improved mood and a sense of joy.

Conclusion

Caring for houseplants has many health and wellness benefits for women over 50 as we search for ways to keep ourselves healthy, and live longer and healthier lives. Houseplants provide a more pleasant environment, improve air quality thereby reducing the pollution in our homes, help with stress reduction, improve mood, and have anti-aging effects on our skin and brain.  

If you are new to house plants, start with a low maintenance less finicky variety such as pathos, ZZ plant, snake plant, peace lily, or spider plant to increase your chances of success. Consider starting with one then add more as you develop your confidence.  Once you are comfortable, permit yourself creativity to explore types, colors, and placement.

As we age, staying youthful, radiant, and healthy requires that we prioritize our health. It also means that we look at unique evidence-based ways to improve our health and longevity, and caring for houseplants is one of those ways.

Dr. Diane Thompson, MD is board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with a subspecialty in Brain Injury Medicine. She is also board-certified in Lifestyle Medicine and Age Management Medicine and a certified health coach who helps women over 50 use Lifestyle Medicine and longevity science to reverse and help control chronic diseases and age healthfully. She is the author of this Amazon bestseller.

Disclosure:  The information presented is for educational purposes and is not meant for diagnosis or treatment. No physician-patient relationship is intended. Discuss with your physician prior to making any changes to your health. Some of the links in this blog may be affiliate links, which are of no additional cost to you and allow me to keep the content free. These are products I’ve personally used.

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