11 Benefits Of Cycling You Must Know About
Healthy, fun and free. That’s what cycling is all about. No commitments, no monthly fees, no membership costs. Enjoy your time in the outdoors and enjoy life. ‘Bicycle your way to health’ is my motto – and here’s why you should make it yours too. Find out more about the benefits of cycling.
1. Cycling is beneficial for movement
Research has shown that post menopausal women are less likely to develop coronary diseases. But this is compensated for by the fact that they are more likely to develop peripheral circulatory abnormalities, like swelling of limbs, etc. Cycling helps improve blood and lymph circulation thus helping in preventing these complications.
2. Cycling is beneficial for lumbar or spinal problems
Cycling is a great exercise for women suffering from bad posture or excessive weight. Even though cycling focuses more on training the limbs and feet, it can also have some effect on the upper portion of the body, especially the shoulders and lumbar area. This is most pronounced when pedaling on an irregular terrain.
3. Cycling is beneficial for pregnancy
It has been recently shown that cycling is highly beneficial for pregnant women as well. Pregnancy brings along with it body pain, back pain, stiffness of joints, etc. These can be relieved to some extent by regular cycling. It can also lower risk of high blood pressure, depression, diabetes, etc. Cycling is a low impact exercise that strengthens joints and cartilage. It also strengthens the spine and helps build stamina. This can be very useful for the process of labor and child birth.
4. Cycling improves cardiovascular fitness
Cycling is a superb cardiovascular workout. It strengthens the heart. This improves blood circulation and reduces the fat levels in the blood. Did you know that even a 30 minute ride on the bicycle meets the American Heart Association’s healthy heart requirements? So pedal away for improved cardiovascular fitness.
5. Cycling is a low-impact activity
Have you used injury as an excuse of not playing sports or not exercising? Bicycling is a low-impact aerobic workout. Let me explain this in plain English. Bicycling is virtually a no-contact sport/activity which increases the heart rate and stimulates flow of oxygen in your body. So there are no tackles you need to watch out for, no shoulder pushes, no sprints to the ball, and most importantly – no pressure! Whether you are bicycling to work or for fun, you are at ease.
6. Cycling provides exposure to sunlight
Experts believe that 15 minutes of sunshine helps generate vitamin D which can prevent osteoporosis – it’s good for your bones. I used to drive to work. My commute started in my driveway and ended in the basement parking lot in downtown. Back from there, to my driveway. Most days I had virtually no exposure to direct sunlight except some rare moments near the photocopier near the office window. As unbelievable as it sounds, many of us are tied down to our mundane routines and sunlight becomes a luxury. Improve your vitamin D levels and bring a smile to your face in the sun – ride your bicycle.
