1. Improves Memory
In an article published in Backpacker magazine, writer Elizabeth Kwak-Hefferan witnessed it as she serves as a test subject in Dr. David Strayer, a neuroscientist study. Results shows mental ability increase by 45 percent increase once the hikers had been out o n the trail for three days. The theory, according to Backpacker, is that time in wilderness may inspire physiological changes, such as the release of hormones, different brain regions usage, allowing to destress, restore and clear the overtaxed higher-thinking regions of the brain. In Utah, another study on a larger group of Outward Bound hikers, showed up to 50 percent increases in creative abilities.
2. Improves Cardiovascular Fitness
Hiking can also decrease levels of cholesterol, which is common cause of heart disease. It increases HDL (high density lipoproteins), the good cholesterol that helps remove LDL (low density lipoproteins), bad cholesterol from the walls of arteries which leads to hypertension, heart attack and stroke. One study shows that hiking and walking as a method of stabilizing cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
3. Strengthens Bones
According to a German anatomist principle, Wolf's law, the bone grows and remodels in response to the forces that placed upon it. Hiking and walking increase the bone density and slowing the rate of calcium loss through external force, thus strengthening the bones and decreasing it susceptibility to break.
4. Improves Muscular Fitness
Main muscles involved during mountain climbing are core, gluteus medius and maximus (hip/back muscles), quadriceps, hamstring and gastrocsoleus muscles (thigh/knee muscles). Muscle endurance improves as your walk gets longer and strength as you climb heights to your goal to summit. Also muscle bulk increase noted after regular mountain climbing as carried bags serves as your weights.
5. Prevents Vitamin D Deficiency
Rickets is a defective demineralization of bones secondary to inefficient vitamin D in our body that may lead to fracture or deformity. Great natural vitamin D source would be the sun, sythesized in the skin.
6. Removes Body Toxins
Hiking, like any forms of exercises, increases blood circulation, thus increasing Haldane effect which is transportation of oxygen and nutrients to the cells, tissue, organs and systems of the body. Removing harmful toxins such as carbon dioxide at the same time is termed as Bohr effect. Moreover, this activity increases your fluid intake which generally helps our kidneys flush harmful substances. Increase circulation means more harmful substances removed into your waste like in sweat, urine and feces.
7. Loses Extra Pounds
In an easy hiking of 2 mph, 240 calories per hour will burn on a person weighing 150 pounds. Doubling your pace, doubling fats shed off.
8. Improves Immune System
Li, an immunologist in the department of hygiene and public health at Nippon Medical School in Tokyo, and chairman of the Society of Forest Medicine collaborates with Miyazaki revealed after for three days, participants' white blood cells had increased by 40%, white blood cells remained 15% higher a month later. These results were not found after urban walking trip, which indicates that the changes aren't from exercise alone.
Another study showed that a one-day trip boosted the levels of white blood cells and anticancer proteins for at least seven days afterward,
9. Decrease Stress Hormone
Miyazaki is a physiological anthropologist and vice director of Chiba University’s Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences outside of Tokyo. In the past eight years, he has taken more than 600 research subjects into the woods, and not surprisingly they reported better moods and lower anxiety.
10. Improves Balance
