Doctors
Explain How Hiking Actually Changes Our Brains
While it may seem
obvious that a good hike through a forest or up a mountain can cleanse your
mind, body, and soul, science is now discovering that hiking can
actually change your brain… for the better!
Hiking In Nature Can
Stop Negative, Obsessive Thoughts
Aside
from the almost instant feeling of calm and contentment that accompanies time
outdoors, hiking in nature can reduce rumination. Many of us often find
ourselves consumed by negative thoughts, which takes us out of the
enjoyment of the moment at best and leads us down a path to
depression and anxiety at worst. But a recent study published
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that spending
time in nature decreases these obsessive, negative thoughts by a significant
margin.
To
conduct this study, researchers compared the reported rumination of
participants who hiked through either an urban or a natural environment.
They found those who walked for 90 minutes in a natural environment reported
lower levels of rumination and they also had reduced neural activity in the
subgenual prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain related to mental
illness. Those who walked through the urban environment, however, did not
report decreased rumination.
The
researchers noted that increased urbanization closely correlates with increased
instances of depression and other mental illness. Taking the time to
regularly remove ourselves from urban settings and spend more time in
nature can greatly benefit our psychological (and physical) well-being.
Hiking In Nature Is
Great Exercise And Therefore Boosts Brainpower
We
already know that exercising is fantastic for our overall well-being. Hiking is
an excellent way to burn between 400 – 700 calories per hour, depending on your
size and the hike difficulty, and it is easier on the joints than
other activities like running. It has also been proven that people who
exercise outside are more likely to keep at it and stick to their programs,
making hiking an excellent choice for those wishing to become more active on a
regular basis.
Researchers
from the University of British Columbia found that aerobic exercise increases hippocampal volume — the
part of the brain associated with spatial and episodic memory — in women over
the age of 70. Such exercise not only improves memory loss, but helps prevent
it as well. Researchers also found that it can also reduce
stress and anxiety, boost self-esteem, and release endorphins. Many
people take medication to solve each and every one of these issues,
but the solution to these ills may be a lot simpler than you think!
How You Can Begin
Hiking?
Luckily,
hiking is one of the easiest and least expensive sports to get involved in, and
it can have great benefits for the whole family, including grandma! Start out
small and test your abilities. Do what works for you — if that means just
walking through trails in a park, that’s fine. Any exercise outdoors is better
than none. You can easily find maps of trails around your
home online, and there are plenty of smartphone apps to map them out, too. I recommend turning
off your signal and your phone while hiking though, so you can reap the most
benefits of the hike (though it may be wise to at least carry it with you in
case of emergency).
Make
sure you have some good sturdy hiking shoes, a hat, and a water bottle, and be
sure to layer your clothing so you can take things on or off easily as you
warm up and cool down. You may want to consider using trekking poles
as well, which can increase your speed and take some of the pressure off your
knees. Now, can you just do one thing for me?
Go
take a hike!
Much
Love
