Benefits of Hiking

Are you looking to increase your overall health and well being this year? Hiking in the outdoors is a great activity and one of the simplest ways to get more active. Hiking has many positive effects on both the body and mind. Here are our top health benefits of hiking;

Reduce Body Fat

Hiking can help you to lose weight and reduce body fat, by increasing the number of calories you burn in a day. The faster you walk, or steeper the gradient, the more calories you will burn.

The NHS suggests that adults should do at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity every week. And what better way to get in your 150 minutes of exercise than going for a hike in the picturesque countryside!

Tone Muscles

Walking and hiking can increase the strength in your muscles, especially your calf, quadriceps and hamstring muscles. This will result in improved muscle definition and can prevent muscle loss. Strengthening your leg muscles will also increase your metabolism and aid in fat loss – win, win!

Strengthen Bones

Hiking is a low impact exercise that can prevent the loss of bone density. Your bones become weaker as you age, and hiking is a great way to prevent this.

Walking strengthens your bones and helps maintain healthy joints as well as reducing the risk of osteoporosis. Plus – spending time in the outdoors will increase your intake of vitamin D, which is vital for bone health!

Improve Heart Health

Hiking will increase your heart rate and get your blood pumping. Regular activity can reduce the risk of both heart disease and stroke. In fact, according to the British Heart Foundation, you can reduce the risk of heart and circulatory disease by 35% by being more active. It’s time to lace up those walking boots!

Reduce Risk of Disease

It’s not just your heart that can benefit from regular walks. Many studies have shown that hiking can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, asthma and even certain cancers. Diabetes UK recommends that 30 minutes of moderate exercise, such as walking five days a week can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Whilst Cancer Research UK states that regular exercise can prevent breast cancer and bowel cancer, whilst maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of a further 11 types of cancer.

Improves Brain Health

Hiking can help to keep our brains healthy and reduce the risk of dementia. Regular activity, such as walking, helps to prevent memory loss, due to a prevention of the shrinking of the hippocampus. The Alzheimer’s Society has reported several studies that show that aerobic exercise in middle aged or older adults prevents memory loss, and reduces rates of dementia.

Improves Mental Health

Exercise, such as hiking, releases the good hormones – endorphins. Endorphins help to reduce anxiety and can have a positive effect on your mood. Walking can also reduce the feeling of stress, as your body becomes better at coping with the levels of cortisol in your body.

According to MIND, increasing your levels of activity from sedentary to exercising three times a week can reduce risk of depression by almost 20%.

We hope our Top Benefits of Hiking has inspired you to get out those walking boots and go on a hike in the great outdoors! Or maybe you’d like to sign up to a trekking challenge, such as TrekFest 2020! 

TrekFest is the ultimate trekking adventure in the Brecon Beacons National Park! We have 25km or 50km route options to choose from, so whether you decide to join us as a solo adventurer or bring your friends and family along – TrekFest is a weekend of adventure you’ll never forget! 

Group of people hiking in the outdoors

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