While hiking in winter isn’t always an attractive idea, you should do it a little more often. The fresh winter air works wonders for your health for these six reasons.
Go, put your hat on and go.
Why walking in winter is healthy
Good for your heart and blood vessels
In general, exercise is already beneficial for your heart health, but a brisk walk in the winter does your heart and blood vessels even more good. Due to the cold, your blood flow can sometimes get stuck. Movement makes your heart rate rise and your blood starts flowing again.
Good for your mood
The chance of depression and anxiety disorders is much higher in the winter than in the summer due to a lack of vitamin D and happiness hormones that we get from the sun. Therefore, make sure you get as much daylight and sunlight as possible by taking a daily walk – even if it is only half an hour during your lunch break.
Good for the line
You really don’t always have to exercise very hard to lose weight: a daily walk of about 5 kilometers already burns 240 calories. This way you lose 12 kilos per year. Moreover, your risk of obesity is about 50 percent less if you exercise for an hour every day. It would be a shame to leave this movement in the winter.
Good for your muscles and bones
If you sit still for a long time, especially in low temperatures, your muscles will stiffen more quickly. Keep everything running smoothly with daily exercise. In addition, the vitamin D you gain during a walk helps to strengthen your bones and reduce the risk of osteoporosis or bone loss.
Good for a night’s rest
Exercise makes you tired, it’s that simple. But that’s not the only reason why you will sleep a lot better after a walk. This way your digestion works a lot better after a little exercise, so that your intestines will require less energy at night. Moreover, a walk is also a great way to clear your head, so that you worry less in the evening.
Good for diabetes
If you take at least 3,500 steps a day, you lower the risk of type 2 diabetes by 29 percent, according to a study by the Radboudumc . Because you also reduce the risk of obesity, you automatically have less risk of diabetes.