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The Health Benefits Of Hiking and Trekking

You probably haven’t heard of these health benefits of hiking as mentioned by the American heart association. Nature can be seen as a natural amusement park for the right hiker. Nature has provided us with amazing trails, some a bit more difficult to hike, some less. Be as that may, hiking is something everybody should do at least two times a week. Not only is hiking good for your health, it also does wonders for your spirit and mind.  There are numerous reasons why hiking is good for you and here are some of them.

Lowers the Risk of Stroke and Heart Disease

According to medical research, your Vitamin D levels rise as you hike and exercise. Vitamin D is essential for the overall health of your heart and brain. Thus, hiking is extremely beneficial for lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke

When we are exposed to the sun, we get Vitamin D but in combination with exercise, those Vitamin D levels skyrocket. Exercising pumps the heart and keeps the arteries clean from any toxins.

It takes only 75 minutes of heavy exercising or 170 minutes of mild exercising per week to make sure your heart is healthy. Everybody should find some spare time for exercising.

Health Benefits Of Hiking American Heart Association

Hiking Improves the Cardio-Respiratory System

Hiking can be considered one of the most powerful cardio workouts ever. This is probably one of the benefits as per the American Heart Association.

Cardio workouts are great for keeping your respiratory system in a good condition. It takes only 140 minutes per week to give your arteries, lungs, and heart a big health boost. This kind of exercise helps the lungs’ and hearts’ ability to pump blood, nutrients, and oxygen.

Hiking is also amazing for building your body’s stamina. The more you exercise, the more ability to withstand cardiovascular stress.

Hiking Regulates Blood Pressure

Hiking Regulates Blood Pressure
Glacier National Park, Montana

Staying in shape by hiking is crucial for regulating blood pressure. Hiking is also very beneficial for lowering the risk of Type 2 Diabetes.

If you’re not really a fan of nature try going for rowing machines, treadmills, or other pieces of equipment. As long as you keep my heart pumping and staying healthy, you are diabetes and high blood pressure-free.

Research showed that using the same energy for moderate-intensity walking and fast pace running ended up reducing the risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, and even cholesterol.

Regulates Bone Density

Bone density in our bones develops during childhood. As we grow old, the bone density reduces. This is due to the lack of stimulation leads. This is also because the flexibility in our bones declines which is inevitable.

Hiking Is a Natural Stress Relief

what to wear hiking in winter

This is probably one of the best ways to relieve stress. Hiking and nature are the perfect combinations for getting your negative energy and thoughts out of your system.

Several studies proved that spending quality time in a green natural environment eases stress levels. Stress can cause a lot of trouble for a person’s health and it is inevitable. That’s why letting some steam through hiking is the perfect solution.

Hiking Improves Problem-Solving Skills

According to a recent study, staying away from technology and spending more time in nature is more than helpful for your creativity levels and problem-solving skills. We depend on technology too much. We expect technology to solve problems for us.

In fact, technology is only there to help us with things that take too much time. Dishwashers help us save time on washing dishes for an hour, washing machines help us save time on washing our clothes manually, etc.

On the contrary, nature gives us the extra time to think about our problems and how to solve them. Being alone in nature will clear your mind. Decluttering your thoughts will heal your spirit and help you get your life in line.

Get Ready

I would go hiking every day even if it wasn’t so good for our health. Hiking has changed my life and I would go hiking every day if I could. Hiking is a sort of passion of mine. When I go out there, exploring nature’s greatest gifts to humanity, I feel like I’m going on an adventure.

The only thing I’m missing is some background music, of course, composed by Ennio Morricone. You might even learn something new. You might discover some species of flowers that you haven’t heard of before or seen animals in their natural environment.

Hiking makes you get in touch with nature. Let nature heal you and throw away the artificial medicine that was designed to make you sick in the first place. Always, remember to protect and leave no trace while you enjoy nature. Nature has provided us with every type of medication that can replace any tablet. That’s why there are so many benefits of hiking American heart association.

Observe Safety

Even though hiking is very beneficial, it can be dangerous if you don’t do it the right way or if you don’t know how to do it. It is very important that you have the right gear and equipment for this hobby.

If you don’t have a navigational system or a map with you, it’s better if you don’t wander too deep into the woods. Once you get lost, it’s very hard to find your way back. Trees might seem the same to you and you can find yourself running around in circles. Once it gets dark, predators start to hunt and that’s the cue for you to leave.

It’s very important to have a first aid kit and the right boots. The forest is filled with insects and plants that can sting you. Allergic or not, always carry a first aid that has plasters, gauze, bandages, safety pins, tweezers, sterile gloves, and sterile eye dressings. On another note, make sure that the tools are sterile to avoid any infection on the wounds.

Stay Hydrated

Also, another really important thing when you go hiking is to stay hydrated. Dehydration in the woods could be life-threatening because the only water source is probably too far away. Dense forests can provide you with fruit but water is scarce in these types of environments. Always, try to include a portable water purifier in your packing list. Staying hydrated will help you hike more and make you feel less tired throughout the day. Among the multiple benefits, these are the only cons of hiking.

FAQs related to hiking:

Is hiking good exercise for weight loss?

Hiking is a great way to lose weight. It’s both enjoyable and a good form of exercise. It raises our heart rates to effective levels for weight loss.

Is hiking better than walking?

Hiking has great benefits because it allows us to get out into nature and experience a rougher terrain than a normal walk. While walking is a great form of exercise, the psychological benefits of hiking outweigh the benefits of walking.

Is hiking better than running?

Both hiking and running provide great benefits to the body. Neither one is better than the other, as they both provide something different to the body and mind.

Is hiking harder than running?

Hiking can be harder than running. However, this depends on many factors, such as the altitude and difficulty of the terrain.

Is hiking good for anxiety?

Hiking is a great reliever of anxiety for a number of reasons. To name a few, fresh air, Vitamin D from the sun, and exercise all have healthy effects on our moods.

Can hiking get you in shape?

Hiking can help you lose weight and strengthen your muscles. Therefore, it is a great way to get yourself in shape.

Final Verdict

Overall, hiking is an amazing therapy and workout. It’s a perfect combination of fitness and fit mental health. Nature has so much to offer. That is why we must enjoy the gifts while they last and preserve them as much as we can.

Disclaimer

All the information displayed in this article is in good faith and is exclusively meant for educational purposes. Under no circumstances should the images, graphics, texts, and other materials created by this article be perceived as medical treatment, diagnosis, or instruction. Only seek professional medical advice from a qualified physician concerning any medical condition.

In the event of a medical emergency, contact the nearest medical facility for assistance. Do we neither endorse nor recommend any particular claims, opinions, procedures, or products highlighted directly on the site or through links to an external website.

Always, we deduce some of the information from our outdoor, hiking, or camping experience and do not provide any warranty regarding its accuracy, completeness, reliability, and accuracy. Therefore, any action undertaken because of the information available on this website Hiking Gear Lab is entirely at your own risk. We will not be in any way accountable for damages or losses incurred through the reliance on the information on our website/this article.

Ultimately, consult your physician or a qualified medical professional for exact information before making a decision on changing your lifestyle or diet depending on the information given in this article.

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