14 DAY TRIAL // People over the age of 60 who take the time to complete a DIY project or plant some roses every once in a while are likely to live about 30% longer than those who do not engage in such activities.
Researchers say that, according to evidence at hand, this is because DIY projects and gardening, though not very stressful for the body, yield roughly the same health benefits that a regular fitness routine does.
Specifically, such activities keep one in shape and lower heart attack or stroke risk, EurekAlert tells us.
After monitoring a total of nearly 4,000 people over the age of sixty in Stockholm, Sweden over a period of 12.5 years, the researchers found that those who had remained active after retirement were 27% less likely to suffer a stroke or a heart attack.
Besides, their risk of death from all causes was roughly 30% smaller, the same source details.
Specialists suspect that DIY projects and gardening up life expectancy due to the fact that this form of exercise keeps the body's metabolism and hormonal balance at normal levels, and therefore prevents degradation of cells and tissues.