Health Benefits of Hiking

 Drita Bronkey is a consultant at Zemer Property Management Consultants (ZPMC). Yoga, spin cycling, reading, and hiking are some of Drita's hobbies.

Hiking is a physical activity that involves people taking a long, brisk walk, typically through a natural environment like a lake, forest, or field. Studies have shown that hiking can improve individuals' health.

One of the health benefits of hiking is that it helps improve participants' bone density. Since it is a high-impact and weight-bearing exercise, hiking improves bone density by strengthening the bone tissue. Bone density refers to the number of minerals in the bone, and high bone density reduces the risk of osteoporosis and prevents broken bones. Also, from sun exposure, hikers can get their dose of vitamin D, which is important for healthy bones because it is essential for calcium absorption.

Furthermore, hiking can help battle stress and depression. Being close to nature can help relieve stress and impact one's mood positively, according to a study done by researchers at Stanford University. Also, studies have found that depression could result from a deficiency in vitamin D. So, getting vitamin D from the sun while hiking may help combat depression.

Finally, hiking can help improve participants' sleep quality. Studies have shown that exercising and being outdoors or close to nature can help develop regular sleep patterns. Since hiking is an outdoor exercise, it can improve participants' sleep quality.