Outdoor activities improve your health and boost your mood. You feel better, and your muscles get some workout. There is a myriad of health benefits of outdoor pursuits, and we have listed only the top ones.
Time spent in outdoor pursuits gives huge rewards.
You don’t have to run a marathon to yield health benefits from outdoor recreation. You can stroll along your favorite scenery or engage in a physically demanding hike up a steep mountain path. If that doesn’t work for you, simply take your kids to a park and have some fun in the outdoor setting. Getting outdoors as often as you can is not only healthy, but it could save your life as some studies have indicated.
Various studies have indicated that outdoor physical activity boosts mental and physical health. The American Health Association suggests spending time in nature to lower stress and aggression, which is a result of a deficient flow of blood towards the heart.
Research has also shown that people who spend more time closer to nature have a better chance of recovering faster from illnesses and injuries. Below, you can explore more health benefits of outdoor pursuits.
Better cardiovascular health
A recent study has shown that outdoor activity has a direct relationship with one’s cardiovascular health. Women who indulge in outdoor activity three hours a week have a 40% lesser chance of getting cardiovascular disease.
Improved vitamin D level
When you go out for outdoor pursuits, you expose your skin to sunlight. As sunlight hits your skin, it starts the production of biologically active vitamin D.
Unlike other vitamins, vitamin D has excellent disease-fighting properties. With abundant amount of this essential vitamin in your body, you can expect to fend off many types of common illnesses. Moreover, studies have indicated that vitamin D could protect against cancer and heart stroke.
Fortunately, our body has a build-in mechanism to make vitamin D. However, it needs to interact with sunlight to start the process. Once you start exposing your skin to sunlight, your body will start making all the vitamin D it needs.
Boost your ability to concentrate
With regular outdoor activity, your concentration will improve over time. Studies have shown that children with ADHD are able to perform better in a concentration test when they walk through the park before sitting in the test as compared to those who walk through an urban setting.
These studies focused on children but they might apply to adults as many have reported a boost in concentration after adding outdoor exercise to their daily routine.
Improve your ability to heal
Research has shown that spending time in outdoor pursuits improves your ability to heal. The benefits of wilderness therapy and learning to survive in challenging environments are the new way to overcome adversity. The sense of achievement one gets from this type of survival therapy is immense. Consequently, the benefits can help you to feel less stressed, and your immune system will enjoy a boost that will help fend off any invading disease.
Getting Off The Pain Meds
According to a study conducted at the University of Pittsburgh, spinal surgery patients felt less pain when they spent more time outdoors. As a result, they consumed fewer painkillers and recovered faster than those who spent more time indoors.
Boost your social health
You can benefit socially from outdoor physical activity. With more social interaction, you enjoy better mental and physical health. If you have a particular problem socially, then perhaps you could join a local group that will help you enjoy the outdoors more.
Participating in outdoor activities brings you closer to other outdoor enthusiasts. You meet new people and build healthy relationships.
Conclusion
Outdoor pursuits boost your self-esteem while giving you a chance to get outside and closer to nature. As a result, stress disappears from your life and you start focusing on important things in your life.
