Hiking is a pretty polarizing activity. Many people relish the chance to connect with nature, but some people see hiking as a form of voluntary torture. Regardless of how you feel about hiking there's no denying the many health and emotional benefits that come along with it.
One of the health benefits of hiking is that, like any physical activity, it improves your bone strength and builds muscle. Something that distinguishes hiking from other forms of exercise is that it is very easy to shift between which part of the body you want to work out. Based on whether you're walking uphill or downhill and whether you're wearing a backpack or not it's possible to work out many different muscles without changing too much.
Similarly, since hiking is a full-body workout it can be a fun and simple way to combat obesity since it burns so many calories. A big problem with a lot of methods of exercise is that only one part of your body is being worried out at once. Also, they simply aren't engaging enough to motivate someone who is trying to lose weight to keep coming back and exercising. For example, someone who goes to the gym may get bored of the black and grey machines and the intimidating climate but with hiking, you're in the great outdoors. You could turn it into a social activity which would motivate you even more to be consistent with it.
Other health benefits that hiking has include a reduced risk of heart disease, lowered blood pressure, and improved arthritis.
Oftentimes when those suffering from arthritis try to exercise there is just too much stress on their joints causing soreness and pain. This makes hiking a perfect fit for anyone with arthritis. Physical activity can reduce inflammation and swelling near the joints while simultaneously decreasing bone loss and increasing muscle growth. Hikes are customizable. Someone with more severe arthritis could go on a shorter, less strenuous hike and still reap the benefits.
Hiking is good not only for the body but also for the mind.
The very act of just looking at nature, and seeing the green releases serotonin. Seeing certain colors can help our bodies to combat stress and calm us down. Hiking provided somewhat of therapeutic relief to the body. On top of the endorphins released from exercising, hiking is a massive mood boost along with all its health benefits. The endorphins can help you to reduce pain and facilitate a feeling of pleasure within the body. This can be extremely helpful for anyone struggling with mental health issues like depression.
Another benefit that hiking has on your mind is that it can improve your quality of sleep. The sunshine that you get while hiking can help you to reset your Circadian Rhythm. Vitamin D helps to maintain your wake/sleep cycle, giving your body a better indication of when to stay awake and when it's time to go to sleep.
Hiking is a multifaceted activity; and it can improve many areas in your life including helping you to lose weight, gain muscle, increase the strength of your bones, help to tackle depression, and improve your sleep. There is nothing quite like that feeling of finally reaching the end of your long hike, seeing that view, and, realizing that it was all worth it.
References:
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/trails/benefits-of-hiking.htm
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/9-benefits-of-hiking
https://americanhiking.org/resources/health-benefits-of-hiking/
Written by Shraddha Tipparaju from MEDILOQUY