Hiking Health Benefits ~ Lifestyle

HEALTHY LIFE| Everyone does hiking for different reasons. Some wants to breathe fresh air, and listen to the sound of nature, others also want to enjoy the scenery, some yearn for photography opportunities, bonding with friends and some just want to get away from city life. One of the best things about hiking is that the positive impact the activity has on your health. 

The front line reason why I enjoy hiking is the mental and emotional clarity I obtain while immersing myself in nature, a peaceful and bountiful gift of nature God had made. Sometimes we need to get away from the noise of life and find some quiet time to think. Those also proven that hiking and other outdoor activities reduce tension, stress, and depression. By taking to breathe in the fresh air, listen to the tranquil melody of nature, and feel the warmth of the sun on your skin.

For the reason of a healthy lifestyle we’ll take some time to explore some of the health benefits that hiking brings to us.

HEALTH BENEFITS:

Weight control, burns approximately 370 calories an hour

Weight loss is the most beneficial of hiking. Negotiating the trail up and down the hill, you burn a lot of calories. And a combination with a balanced and healthy diet, you will benefit with healthy weight loss and a fit body.

Increased bone density or a slower loss of density/ Body Toning

The lower body tones itself fantastically tones when you hike on a regular basis. The trails where there is some extra elevation fit in it and are the best to serve the purpose as they act as muscle toning workouts. 

Reduced depression, stress and better quality sleep

Everyone experiences stress in one way or the other. Hiking plays a role that it acts as a good stress buster. Going for a favorable hike all by yourself gives you time to think unconditionally, and also helps you to untackle your stress. The nature around you refreshes’ you up and efficiently promote better quality sleep.

Improved muscular fitness 

For the muscles to tone further and for you to increase your strength, you could carry some weight on your back (backpack). For beginners, it is recommended that one may start with flat land first and then negotiate by small hills and later on extra higher elevation.

Lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke
Improved cardio and respiratory fitness; the heart, blood vessels and lungs.
The regular pumping of blood and the increase in the blood circulation in the body, one of the health benefits of hiking, a key to prevent heart diseases. The fat is burned better thus preventing blood clots and the level of the good cholesterol increases in the body. This makes in keeping the body healthy.

Lower risk of high blood pressure
The blood vessels and the arteries dilate and the insulin production reduces, thereby reducing the blood pressure. Thus, reduction in the blood pressure in people who suffer from hypertension is one of the important health benefits of hiking.

Slow- Down Aging Process
It has been proved that people who exercise regularly lowers aging process. It has been found out that the immune system of such people ages slowly and the other signs of aging are also delayed. In fact, inactivity increases the process of aging. Hence, some amount of regular exercise is very important in each one's life.

Photo Credit: Steph Haim

OTHER BENEFITS:
Hiking exercises almost every part of your body the legs, knees, ankles, arms, hips/buttocks, abdominal areas, shoulders, head and neck.

Hiking exercises both your body and your mind, which nourishes your imagination. Thus, it creates awareness in your eyes and ears and the rest of your senses.

Hiking is a great way to start exercising. Start with easy hikes and work up to steeper hikes that work your legs more.

Renew Life Spiritually
Immersing yourself to nature is a better way to get in touch more to the creator, since we are made in the image of God. And being in His image, we get great pleasure too by exploring and studying what He made. Some appreciate more on the creation itself, but thinking that the most and worthy is to praise the Creator who made the wonders what we see today. However, the wonders of creation in every part of world reminds us that truly God exist until at the present times.

“For by Him all things were created that are in Heavens and that are on earth, all things were created through Him and for Him.” Colosians 1:16 NKJV

The Famous Lake in Leyte ~ Lake Danao Natural Park

LAKE DANAO| Coined to be the highest lake in the province of Leyte, located in Brgy. Lake Danao.The lake offers a perfect getaway when you seek for peace, relaxation and nature adventures. The view deck is a place where one can view the entire picture of Lake Danao, the guitar-shape lake covers an area of 148 hectares (370 acres). It is situated in the 2,193 hectares (5,420 acres) Lake Danao National Park, which also includes the Amandiwin mountain range. The lake is 18 kilometers northeast of Ormoc, a 45 minute drive from the city.

There are wetlands found near the lake. The present lake could be the deepest portion of a much larger lake in the past. It was probably much larger in the geologic past and could have included the large wetlands and marshes. Sedimentation has probably transformed this portion of the lake into what it is today.

Lake Danao lies on an altitude similar to Tagaytay, making the place cooler than the average Philippine temperature. Unlike to similar lakes in the country, lake danao covers with pine tress which makes the location a perfect getaway during dry season. The hornbills, dove and pigeons are the most common birds roam around the lake and they are mostly hunted by illegal hunters. 

On June 2, 1972 “Lake Imelda” (original name) was declared a national park by virtue of Presidential Memorandum issued by Pres. Ferdinand Marcos. And in February 3, 1988 they renamed and declared as LAKE DANAO NATIONAL PARK through Proclamation No. 1155 and until now it is protected by Republic Act. No. 7586, also known as the National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS) Act of 1992.

One may experience trekking into the man made pathways around the lake, boating, kayaking and dine into the famous floating cottages are also possible. Lake Danao is a perfect place for side trip when one plans to climb the highest mountain in Leyte "alto peak", locals named it Mt. Amenduen. 

In the same mountain range, Lake Jalagdan is quite interesting also going to the north, but it takes to climb a mountain negotiating 2-3 hours of trekking. These two lakes are the most popular in the region.

GETTING THERE

From Ormoc City Terminal at Public Market Building A, catch a Jeep or a passenger multicab going up to Lake Danao or Brgy. Ga-as, hence transportation going to this areas are in time frame basis, scheduled trips are observed.

 

Wander and Wonders about ~ Butterfly

Butterfly in Mt. Batulao
In Philippines nearly 21,000 recorded insect species are found only in the country. In addition about one-third of the 915 butterflies found here are endemic. One of the largest butterflies in the world and the largest in the Philippines, the Magellan Birdwing can be found here and the largest moth, the “Altas Moth” can be found also in the country.

Butterflies exhibit polymorphism, mimicry and aposematism and others like the Monarch, will migrate over long distances. Some butterflies have evolved symbiotic and parasitic relationships with social insects such as ants. Some species are pests because in their larval stages they can damage domestic crops or trees; however, some species are agents of pollination of some plants, and caterpillars of a few butterflies (e.g., Harvesters) eat harmful insects. Culturally, butterflies are a popular motif in the visual and literary arts.

Butterflies in their adult stage can live from a week to nearly a year depending on the species. Many species have long larval life stages while others can remain dormant in their pupal or egg stages. Butterflies may have one or more broods per year. The number of generations per year varies from temperature to tropical regions like in the Philippines.

However, still the butterfly flies joyfully capturing many hearts. It’s not how high we fly, but rather how many lives changed because we came.