Nothing beats the sheer freedom of walking in the hills and breathing in the fresh air whilst taking in the views of the magnificent scenery surrounding you.
Hill walking will make you fitter faster as it tends to be a much more vigorous cardiovascular exercise than walking on the flat.
In addition to improving your cardiovascular fitness levels and reducing your body fat through aerobic exercise, hill walking offers additional benefits that you will not get by pounding away on a treadmill in a gym. Primarily, there is the fresh air you inhale. Then the fact that you are surrounded by nature can often be more motivating than being stuck in the confines of a gym. The therapeutic benefit and the relief of stress are incalculable and certainly should not be underestimated. Walking amidst the natural environment can often give one ‘breathing space’ to think and to release tension naturally. If one sets oneself challenges each time one ‘takes to the hills’, this can also help build one’s self confidence.
Undoubtedly, the fitness level derived from regular hill walking will enhance the body’s immune system which in turn, will give added protection from many common ailments and even more chronic conditions over the long term.
STRESS – a further word about the damaging effects of negative stress on the body.
Stress begins in the brain, with a surge of hormones causing intense alertness. In this hyped state, it is difficult to relax or sleep. Furthermore, our minds cannot function at this extreme level for prolonged periods. Eventually, the hormone surges and exhaustion causes tension headaches, irritability, aggression, inability to concentrate and memory loss. Unchecked stress can also trigger depression. Stress suppresses the hypothalamus, the emotion control centre in our brains, curbing the production of the hormones that energise us and make us feel well.
HILL WALKING RELIEVES STRESS!
In regard to stress management, you may find the the following website page interesting:
http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/10-ways-to-overcome-stress/
– Watch your diet for your health’s sake!
You may find the following articles and links of interest:
1) The dangers in CANNED FOOD and BOTTLED WATER!
– http://www.truthaboutabs.com/bpa-and-abdominal-fat.html
2) Make your own SALAD DRESSING!
– http://www.truthaboutabs.com/super-healthy-salad-dressing.html
3) The goodness in egg yolk!
– http://www.truthaboutabs.com/whole-eggs-or-egg-whites.html
4) Change your lifestyle for real health benefits!
– The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson
5) The Surprising Truth About Wheat Carbs and Sugar – Your Brain’s Silent Killers!