Exercise in the snow: Nowadays, “lifestyle diseases” such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, allergies or even psychological diseases such as depression and anxiety disorders are on the rise. On the one hand this is due to sedentary lifestyles (on average we generally exercise too little) combined with an unbalanced diet […]
Movement form: mountain hiking
Medium altitude (1,000 – 2,500 metres)
In contrast to UV radiation, which increases with altitude and is associated with vitamin D synthesis, fine dust pollution reduces as the altitude increases. Furthermore, shorter flowering phases and more extreme weather conditions lead to a change in vegetation at higher altitudes, which in turn significantly reduces allergen concentrations compared to lower-lying natural habitats. The […]
Alpine mountain hiking
The main reasons for hiking are experiencing nature, fresh air, the beauty of nature and landscape, fauna and flora. Another aspect that is becoming increasingly important is health as a motive for hiking holidays, with the scientific evidence of the positive effects of hiking on health and well-being now constantly growing. One of the first […]
Waterfalls
European mountain regions host numerous Alpine waterfalls that produce inhalable, negatively charged nano-water particles known as “Lenard ions” (see also air Ions). Negative air ions close by waterfalls, the so called “ionosols”, are generated by aerosolization of water droplets on an obstacle, an aqueous surface or by aerodynamic break-up during free fall. After breaking up, […]
Alpine water – blue spaces
Water is one of the most important physical and aesthetic landscape elements. Humans have always been attracted by rivers, lakes and the sea. What impact do aquatic environments have on people’s health? While the health benefits of green spaces are quite well explored, little analysis has been made of “blue spaces” and even less of […]
Balneotherapy in Alpine healing waters
In the strict sense of the term, balneotherapy is defined as the use of baths containing thermal mineral waters from natural springs at a temperature of at least 20°C and with a mineral content of at least 1 g⁄l. The temperature of the thermal water is usually around 20 degrees. Balneotherapy has been used since […]