A multi-day hike can relax us and help us relaxRelieve everyday stress. Nature, exercise and fresh air should actually be good for the body. However, a team from Arizona has found that hiking can also be harmful to your health.
Hiking for several days can also have a negative effect on the heart and blood circulation
Tom Heinbockel, an experienced hiker and medical student, told his friend Daniel Craighead that he was planning a multi-day hike before the start of next semester. His friend, also a scientist, asked him to conduct several tests before the start and after the hike. He wanted to find out whether and how time in nature affects the heart and blood circulation. Heinbockel was tested for this purpose. His friend then discovered that he was healthy. His body was in top shape. The calculated body mass index was in the lower range and the percentage of fat in the body was low. The blood vessels were also healthy.
That's why Heinbockel set out and hiked, first in a group and then alone, through the mountains of the Pacific Crest Trail. The weather was cold, there was still a lot of snow and he had to cross rivers. In order not to waste time and not to attract wild animals, Heinbocket decided to use snacks and packaged food. He lived almost exclusively on chips and sweets.
After his return, the same test was carried out. It quickly became clear that his body had changed little. He still had a good BMI (body mass index) and the percentage of fat in his body was even lower than before the hike. However, the research friends quickly discovered that the blood vessels were narrowed. They believe that such a big change in such a short period of time could only be due to the diet. So even if you exercise a lot and breathe fresh air, your diet can have a negative effect on your blood vessels.
So instead of doing a multi-day hike, you can take multiple trips on different days.
