News flash: You should hike for health and happiness.
For the last few years, a growing body of research has strongly suggested myriad physical and mental health benefits linked to outdoor activity, in addition to the well-established benefits of leading an active lifestyle. Studies show heading for the hills helps:
Reduce anxiety and improve memory. Researchers in a Stanford University study found people who walked for 50 minutes in a natural area had lower levels of anxiety and performed better on some memory tasks than those who walked in urban locations with high traffic.
Lower the risk of mental illness. The same Stanford researchers also found that nature hikes led to less negative, self-defeating thoughts and less activity in an area of the brain associated with mental illness and depression.
Manage stress better. Participants in England’s Walking for Health program experienced fewer signs of depression and negative effects caused by life’s stressful events.
Increase energy. One study found workouts done in nature were associated with increased energy and decreases in tension, confusion, anger, and depression.
Clearly, getting your hike on provides a wealth of emotional well-being benefits. Don’t have a favorite hiking trail in your city? State parks and green spaces in urban areas make great places to find a trail. But you can also check these organizations for ideas on where to get started:
- American Trails, a national, nonprofit organization, has extensive state-by-state lists to help you find a trail in your neck of the woods. Canadian Trails are listed, too.
Read more at www.BlackHealthMatters.com.
Black Health Matters (BHM) is the leading patient and consumer-focused health information website for African Americans. BHM connects health information seekers to the highest quality health content on the web, shared via social media and disseminated at BHM community-based health events. Committed to making African American families healthier, BHM imparts expert advice on disease management while promoting healthier lifestyles. The result is a compelling health content experience that resonates within the cultural context of the user’s life.