Camping Health Benefits
There are countless reasons everyone should pack a tent and head off on a camping trip, but many people don’t realise that camping can actually be great for your health, as well as being a fun outdoor activity. Virtually every aspect of camping is good for you, from being more active to providing plenty of fresh air and a good dose of vitamin D. Here are four reasons why your next camping trip will benefit your health.
Increased Serotonin Levels
Serotonin is a chemical which our body produces that affects our brains to make us feel happy – something that everyone wants to feel more of. Camping can actually affect the level of serotonin in the body through increased oxygen intake, higher exposure to sunlight and more exercise. So if you want to be happier, it’s as simple as getting outside to unspoiled nature and spending some time camping.
Better Sleep
Back before electricity and alarm clocks, we went to bed and woke up with the sun. Not only did this give our sleep routine a better and more regular rhythm to work with, but we weren’t distracted by flashing notifications on our phones and disrupted sleep cycles. Known as the circadian rhythm, these sleep cycles work as our body’s internal clock and studies have shown that living by the sun and returning to a more natural sleep routine can balance out the levels of melatonin. In other words, camping is a great way to get a better quality rest and regulate your sleep pattern.
Disconnect From Technology
Technology rules our lives and we can barely spend ten minutes without needing to check our phones, emails or upload something to one of many social media channels. Various studies over the last ten years have shown that our relationship with technology has a negative impact on our ability to think and remember things, as well as reducing our attention span. The beauty of camping is that it takes us away from wireless distractions to enable us to reconnect with nature and enjoy a stress-free break.
Extra Exercise
Many of the health problems we face as a society today stem from the fact that we spend a lot of our time sitting down. This lack of exercise can lead to a host of health concerns, from heart disease to obesity and diabetes. Camping takes you away from the sofa and forces you to get moving. Gathering wood for your campfire, setting up the tent and exploring the surrounding areas with a hike all get you exercising, not to mention carrying heavy backpacks and camping equipment with you along the way. All this movement and the opportunity to get some much needed fresh air will get your blood pumping and makes for a more scenic fitness session than the gym.
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