Health Benefits of Hiking
Rose May Pimentel in Health
Feb 25, 2022 • 3 min Read
Hiking is one of the best exercises that afford health benefits ranging from physical exercise to mental and/or emotional relief.
Hiking is walking that’s done in the outdoors and along natural terrain. You’ll usually encounter elevation changes when hiking. Several Philippine mountains make great destinations for hiking.
Here are some of the amazing benefits of hiking, from the Hiking and Fishing website:
1. Hiking Gets You Fit
Like many forms of exercise, hiking can improve your cardiovascular health and physical strength. Hiking helps increase your balance and stability as you navigate various types of terrain while burning calories. In a study, walking on uneven terrain increases step width and length variability, joint mechanical work, and muscle co-activation compared with walking on smooth terrain. At the same time, metabolic output goes up.
2. Hiking Can Lower Other Health Risks
Hitting the trail regularly can keep your health in check and lower your risk of several health dangers. According to The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, hiking can lower blood pressure by four to 10 points, and minimize the threat of heart disease, diabetes, and strokes for those at high-risk.
3. Hiking May Help Prevent and Assist in Recovery of Cancer
Oxidative stress is believed to be a strong factor in the onset, progression, and recurrence of cancer. A study in the International Journal of Sports Medicine looked to investigate how oxidative stress is influenced by physical activity like hiking.
Researchers measured oxidative stress and antioxidative capacity in 12 women with breast cancer and six men with prostate cancer, before and after long hiking trips. Their data concluded that long-distance hiking trips can improve the antioxidative levels of oncological patients.
4. Hiking in Nature Decreases Brooding and Ruminating Thoughts
Brooding repeatedly over negative thoughts about self can lead to depression, anxiety, and other debilitating mental health issues. In a recent study, researchers found that hiking in nature decreased the negative, obsessive thoughts about self. Nature can also lessen neural activity in the subgenual prefrontal cortex, which is affiliated with mental illness. Getting outside and hiking can be one of the best ways to increase endorphins which can help offset depression. Moving the body is also a great way to release energy that may be going toward anxiety.
5. Hiking Can Increase Brainpower
Hiking as a form of exercise stimulates neurogenesis, the growth of new neurons. Hiking can support cognitive improvement and reduce depression and anxiety. Reports have demonstrated how hiking and being in nature has a memory-promoting effect that walking in urban areas does not.
6. Hiking Can Lower Stress
Studies have shown that being in nature and hiking can lower levels of cortisol, a hormone used as a stress indicator.
7. Hiking Helps You Unplug
Technological devices consume many of us, due to work, social ties, and more. The average Pinoy adult spends almost six hours on their mobile phone. Hiking can be a fantastic way to unplug and separate us from devices, have more quality time with friends, family, or even enjoy the peace and quiet with yourself. When you reconnect, you may have more perspective in choosing the ways that count to you.
Indeed, hiking is more than just fun, it’s good for you too. If you have extra hours to spare, go on a trail, experience fresh air, and enjoy its benefits!
Stay healthy and safe!
