It is true that being physically active have many benefits for both physical and mental health. Unfortunately, many people fail to see these advantages. Instead, they assume that such activities are only for those with a strong body. Especially for those who prefer to be inactive during the day, they have a higher risk of developing diseases. Indeed, medications are available, but prevention is still the best method to maintain health. Among all the available choice of physical activities, hiking is one example that being physically active can also be fun.

People generally perceive the activity as a form of physical exercise that is only suitable for those nature enthusiasts. People who prefer to stay all day indoors argue that they do not possess the strength, patience, and motivation to hike. However, what they do not understand is that hiking offers many health benefits. Thus, this article tries to explain what advantages that one will get from the activity. Of course, they need to understand first that even those with different preferences can also enjoy the activity.

Burning More Calories

Studies show that one-hour hiking burns approximately 532 calories. As a comparison, one-hour running on a treadmill also burns 100 calories. Thus, it is safe to conclude that hiking provides a more effective method to burn calories than indoor exercises, making it a perfect chance for those who need to lose weight. As the body burns more calories while hiking, the core power also increases, implying that it is not impossible to start gaining and toning muscles during the hike, especially when you carry a loaded carrier on your back.

Muscle Building

Hiking focuses on the core strength since hikers often deal with hilly areas. For this reason, muscle building is also very likely during the hike. One thing to note is that hiking can only help you build leg muscles since your legs are the body parts that work all the time. Thus, if you aim to shape your upper body muscles, hiking is not suitable for you.

Sunlight

The next advantage that all nature enthusiasts can get is sun exposure. Constant exposure to sunlight has long been known to have health impacts on the body. It enhances mood and mental state, proving that those who spend hours outdoors are far happier than those who stay all day indoors. Sunlight also works wonder for the recovery process, not only for internal illness but also for open wounds. Lower blood pressure and cleaner blood vessels are also other examples of how the activity can help you maintain your health.