When it comes to staying healthy and happy, it can be hard to know where to begin. Of course, there’s the gym, but so many people find it so unappealing that they don’t go as often as they intend to. Another option is going for a run in your local park or somewhere with nice scenery. This can be enjoyable and might even help you lose weight faster than the gym (depending on your diet), but after a while, you may feel like you’re missing something. What if you could walk in the woods, breathe in fresh air, and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life? Hiking is one of those things that not a lot of people do regularly, but almost everyone would agree that it’s great for your health. It’s a low-impact form of exercise that doesn’t put stress on your joints like running does; meaning that once you get used to hiking regularly you shouldn’t have any problems continuing to do so for many years without any repercussions.
Hiking is Good for Your Mental Health One of the most important reasons to start hiking is that it is great for your mental health. Spending time in nature has been shown to reduce stress and help you de-stress after a long day at work. Studies have shown that hiking in particular can reduce cortisol levels in the blood which is the hormone that your body releases when you’re stressed. Hiking regularly will help you de-stress, sleep better, and even make you happier. Along with reducing stress and helping you sleep better, hiking can also help to improve your mood. Studies have shown that time in nature actually increases serotonin and dopamine levels in your brain which are the two chemicals that regulate mood and make you happy. Hiking is Good for Your Physical Health Luckily for those of us who are more interested in the physical health benefits of hiking than the mental benefits, scientific research has also been done on this. Studies have shown that just two hours of hiking every week can reduce your risk of chronic diseases by 50%! This is because hiking is an aerobic exercise that increases your heart rate, which means that your heart is working harder and becoming stronger. Along with making your heart stronger, hiking can also help to improve your lung function, reduce blood pressure, and improve cholesterol. If you’re worried about these things, you should definitely consider giving hiking a try because it can have such a big impact on your health. Hiking Helps You Maintain a Healthy Weight One of the best benefits of hiking is that it can really help to improve your diet and help you maintain a healthy weight. This is because hiking is a form of exercise that burns calories. The more often you hike, the more calories you will burn. Normal hiking will burn about 600 calories per hour, and vigorous hiking will burn about 900 calories per hour. If you’re trying to lose weight, you can start hiking more often to burn more calories and hopefully eat healthier at the same time. You can also try hiking in a more vigorous way to burn even more calories. It’s important to note that hiking will most likely not help you lose fat unless you are already eating a very low-calorie diet. Instead, hiking will help you maintain your current weight even while eating a normal amount of calories. Hiking Improves Your Lung Function Usually, lung function decreases with age, but it has been shown that hiking can actually help to improve lung function even in elderly people. If you spend most of your time indoors (like a lot of people do), you might find that your lung function has decreased. Hiking regularly is a great way to combat this and improve your lung function! Hiking Improves Strength and Cardio Fitness You might think that hiking isn’t as good for you as other sports, but it has actually been shown to improve strength and cardio fitness. This is because hiking uses your body in many different ways, which is why it has such a large impact on your health. It has been shown that walking actually only improves your cardio fitness by 15%, but hiking actually improves your cardio fitness by 50%! Hiking is a great way to improve your strength and cardio fitness at the same time. Hiking is a great way to stay healthy and fit while also connecting with nature and escaping the daily grind. You can hike virtually anywhere, even if it’s just in your own neighborhood. All you need is a pair of sturdy shoes and a positive attitude. Not only is hiking great exercise, but it’s also a good way to relieve stress and spend time connecting with loved ones. Whether you’re hiking in the mountains or just around the block, there are many benefits to be had from this enjoyable activity.
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