Hiking: 10 physical and mental health benefits

10 Health Benefits of Hiking

Hiking isn't just a way to relax. It offers a wide range of benefits, and can dramatically improve both your physical and mental health.

Here are a few of the ways hiking can transform you into the best version of yourself. There are a myriad of destinations for hiking world wide, from forests in Estonia, to the Rocky Mountains of the US and the riverbanks of the UK.

1. Hiking Delivers a Great Cardio Workout 

You get sustained cardiovascular exercise from hiking, which means it can increase your cardio-respiratory health and should become a semi-regular part of your fitness training.

When you're on a hike, your lungs, heart, and even arteries will get a workout. Even a short hike can give you a nice workout and boost your health. 

One study found that going on a brisk walk for 150 minutes each week lead to dramatic improvements in the cardio-respiratory health of participants. The lungs and the heart operated more efficiently, improving circulation. 

2. It Can Reduce the Risk of Diabetes and Keep Diabetes Under Control 

Not only can hiking help you to control diabetes, but it can keep you from developing diabetes in the first place. This is because it reduces blood sugar levels. When you hike, you're exercising your muscles. This causes glucose to be moved from your bloodstream so that your energy levels can stay high. 

3. Reduced Risk of High Triglycerides and Cholesterol 

You may eat very healthily, but if you don't get enough exercise, your triglyceride and cholesterol levels may be high. This can lead to health issues, including diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. 

Getting a cardiovascular workout, like the one you'd get during a hike, can help your body to regulate triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Regular workouts cause the body to produce more HDL, which is a helpful type of cholesterol. Triglyceride and harmful cholesterol levels will be lowered. 

10 of the most incredible hiking trails our planet has to offer. I hope this video will help some of you :)

4. It Can Help You Keep Your Weight Under Control 

Many fatal diseases, including heart attacks and strokes, have been linked to obesity. Hiking can help you to lose weight or to maintain a healthy weight. 

Someone that weighs 200 pounds can expect to burn around 550 calories during an hour-long hike. A person that weighs 160 pounds would burn approximately 430 calories. 

5. You'll Strengthen Your Muscles whilst hiking

During a hike, you utilize muscles throughout the body for an extended period of time. Muscles in the legs and hips get a solid workout, as well as the glutes.

Smaller muscles, like the ones near the knees and ankles, are also exercised. A hike is considered to be a form of low-intensity exercise. 

The length of a hike could vary wildly based on the trail you're walking. Some hikes take less than an hour, while others could keep you walking for as long as 15 hours.

During this time, your muscles will be engaged the entire time. This means you'll be able to increase your endurance levels and build muscle strength. You'll see better results than you would get from sports that don't provide the same sustained level of exertion. 

6. It Reduces The Risk Of Falls 

Bone density tends to decrease as we grow older. This means that falls and bone breaks are more common. An advantage of hiking is that it can improve bone density. Hiking can help to keep your bones strong. 

You'll see impressive benefits if you focus on physical fitness while you are still young. It doesn't matter if you choose to hike on your own or in a group. You're doing the best thing for your bone health. 

7. It Can Lessen Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety 

Along with reducing stress, hiking can lower anxiety levels. When you're on a hike, you can focus on your breathing, enjoying many of the benefits you would experience when meditating. If you want to reduce feelings of stress and elevate your mood in an instant, just step outside. 

8. You'll Get More Restful Sleep 

When you walk across uneven terrain, your body consumes more energy than it would if you were walking across a flat surface. You'll also be cutting yourself off from screens that you would normally view throughout the day, such as your television, phone, or computer screens. This can lead to improved sleep. 

Top 10 Amazing Hikes in Europe

9. You'll Feel Better 

When you spend time outdoors, you'll spend less time ruminating. This is a process in which harmful thoughts are repeated in our heads. For example, you might focus on the things in your life that make you unhappy or embarrassing moments from your past. You shouldn't underestimate the impact stepping outdoors can have. 

10. Hiking is a Social Experience 

While you can hike alone, you can also share the experience with friends. This can help to bring your social group together, building memories that will last a lifetime. 

Certainly the popularity of ‘off the grid’ travelling has brought further exposure to hiking as a hobby. The craze of the last decade or so of converting vans and camper vans into genuine homes from home has seen more people take to teh hills than ever.

People often gather at specific points, with sometimes incredible views and begin hikes into unspoilt terrain.

What’s really remarkable is how travellers have everything they need to camp out for weeks on end inside one vehicle! The latest vans come equipped with showers, custom-designed storage, small wood stoves for cooking and of course space to sleep at night before setting off to the next destination the following day.

Set Off On An Adventure 

Going on a hike is a wonderful way to get exercise, and it offers numerous health benefits as well. If you haven't considered hiking before, why not give it a try? 

Hiking doesn't require much in the way of supplies. While you may need to prepare for a longer hike, in most cases, all you'll need is a pair of hiking boots! So grab yourself some decent walking shoes, some clothing to protect against the weather, marmot rain jackets, Patagonia gilets etc and a decent water bottle and a hat, and you’re good to go!

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