Outside Reading - Blog #3

Hiking Your Way to Health

In and article from Huffington Post, "Proof that Hiking Makes You Happier and Healthier", Abigail Wise gives proof as to why hiking can be therapeutic, physically and mentally. Everyday hikers battle bug-bites, bad blisters, and bruises to complete the challenge of hiking a long distance trail and the chance to connect with nature. Hiking can not only give you a sense of accomplishment but it also has its mental and physical perks. Wise gives examples of a few things that hikers can teach us about leading a happier, healthier life. The first being hikers are creative. Hikers look for the brainpower boost necessary forget the caffeine and look to the nearest trail. Research show that spending time outdoors increases attention spans and creative problem-solving skills by as much as 50% The lack of technology can have a big contribution into the creativity boost of hikers. The second reason Wise gives is that hikers are extremely fit. Hiking can not only workout your brain but your body, in the article it states that just one hour of hiking can burn 500 calories depending on the level of incline and the weight of your pack. Hiking can be a great way to get a workout and it puts less pressure on your joints than walking on a road or flat surface. Caroline Stedman said, "Trails are often softer on joints than asphalt or concrete," she states, "so i find myself feeling less still and creaky after a hike than a jog down a sidewalk. Hiking on a regular basis decreases blood pressure by four to ten points, and reduce the danger of heart disease, diabetes and strokes for those at a high risk. The final reason hiking is beneficial to health is hiking heals. Research suggests that the physical benefits, as a stated in the article "extend far beyond cardiovascular health, and may even go as far as to help cancer patients recover. In a study published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers measured oxidative stress rates of women with breast cancer and men with prostate cancer before and after hiking. The study found that long distance hiking trips may improve the antioxidative capacity, which helps fight off disease, in the blood of oncological patients. This study really stood out to me, my mom has breast cancer and I have been trying to find some ways to keep her health up. This article has really encouraged me to one day hike long distance, I would love to be able to take that mental break and heal mentally and physically.