10 Health Benefits Of Cycling
We already knew that riding a bike is beneficial to your health. However, why? Riding a bike has mental and physical benefits. It helps prevent physical discomfort and disability and is beneficial for the lungs and muscles. Riding a bicycle is a convenient mode of transportation for a majority of individuals. We’ve outlined ten health benefits of cycling in this post, along with reasons to ride every day.
These are the 10 reasons why cycling is so good for you:
1. Cycling helps to prevent diseases
If you cycle regularly, you reduce the risk of diabetes type 2 and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, cycling has a positive effect on your blood. The composition of your blood changes and it will flow faster because of the movements you make while cycling and your increased heart rate. This is what a doctor/researcher from the Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum says. The blood vessels will also become more flexible and stronger and will not close as quickly.
2. Cycling is good for relaxing and helps relieve stress
During cycling you get the possibility to think of something else. Long tours relax the mind. It affects your whole body and feeling; your body and breathing come to rest, but also your head. Cycling has positive effects on the reduction of stress complaints and while cycling you make certain substances, such as endorphins and serotonin. These substances give a feeling of happiness.
3. Cycling prevents sleep problems
Research shows that we can sleep better if we cycle every day. By pedaling for just 30 minutes a day you will fall asleep faster and you even sleep for an hour longer. By being outside and thus being more in the light of day, you are better able to find your natural sleep rhythm again. In addition, with sunlight the production of the stress hormone cortisol reduces, this can contribute to a good night’s rest.
4. Cycling helps against obesity
Cycling is a very good way to lose those extra pounds. Did you know that you can burn about 97 calories with 10 minutes of cycling? Cycling is a low impact training that almost does not burden the joints. You make smooth and even movements. If you are already heavier, cycling is also a good solution. The most of your weight is on the saddle, so your knees and ankles do not have to carry this weight.
5. Cycling provides the ‘brain effect’
When you cycle, you not only move your body, but also your brain. Cycling has a positive effect on the blood flow to your brains, allowing more oxygen to enter your brain. This way more proteins are produced to create new brain cells. In addition, cycling ensures that the different parts of our brain can communicate better with each other, which increases our cognitive capacity. This means that our insightful skills – which have to do with thinking, the mind, the intellect and the human cognitive capacity – improve.
6. Cycling supports muscle formation
During cycling you do not just use your legs and feet to turn the pedals around. You also use many additional muscles, including to steer, stay in balance, to keep yourself in position and for extra power. With a regular bike ride you work hard on your muscle formation. If you cycle half an hour to an hour a day, you will get in good shape and you get stronger muscles.
7. Cycling is a social activity
Of course, you can cycle alone but it is also fun to cycle together. You can chat, laugh and listen while cycling. It starts with going to school; children rarely cycle alone to their school. When they cycle in all kinds of weather, they quickly create a bond. To develop emotionally well, it is important to have social contacts. A bike ride with friends can help you with that!
8. You can cycle anytime and everywhere
Cycling is super accessible. You will use your bike faster, because it is so easy to use, You can plan bicycle rides at times when you are already going somewhere, so you still get your movement without losing a lot of extra time. You can also get to many more places by bike than by car. There are a lot of cycle paths in the world, so there are still plenty of places to discover for most people.
9. Cycling gives you the feeling of freedom
Cycling gives you a wonderful feeling of freedom, you are ‘slowing down’. When you cycle back from your work, you come home relaxed. You can come to the most beautiful places and cycling allows you to discover cities or landscapes in a relaxing way. No obligations, no stress and keep moving.
10. When you cycle, you are in open air and nature
Sometimes you only notice how beautiful nature is when you cycle through it. From the car, the nature will pass by much faster from the car. On the bike you see a lot more. It is also healthy to be in nature regularly, your mood improves when you go out, you have less negative thoughts and you experience less stress. Your mental fatigue also decreases. Being sufficiently outdoors ensures that you take in enough vitamin D. Of course, it is also wonderful to breathe the fresh air during a long bike ride.
