People require regular exercise for good health, but that does not mean you have to sweat it out in the gym every day. Even walking for 30 minutes a day can have a massive impact on your overall mental and physical well-being. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ‘regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health’. There are many types of exercise you can do, but in this article, we will look at cycling and its benefits.
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How Cycling Benefits Health
One of the great things about cycling is the fact that it is a low-impact exercise that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. How intensive it is will depend on the rider and the type of terrain being traversed. Cycling can be enjoyed competitively or as a casual activity, and some people even use it as their primary mode of transport.
Cycling regularly is a terrific way to lose weight; maintaining a healthy weight will ultimately help to prevent the onset of chronic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. According to Healthline, regular cycling can also help to improve cholesterol levels and boost cardiovascular health, which in turn reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. There are a number of other health benefits of cycling too, including:
- strengthening muscles and improving joint mobility
- improving flexibility
- strengthening bones
- improving coordination and posture
- reducing the risk of depression and anxiety
- decreasing stress levels.
How Often Should You Cycle?
If you want to start cycling for your health, you may be wondering how often you should incorporate it into your lifestyle. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and two days of muscle-strengthening activity per week. Cycling can help with both.
The wonderful thing about cycling for health is that you can combine it with other things. For example, you can hop on your bike to get to and from work or school, or you can use your bike instead of the car to visit your local coffee shop to meet friends.
Getting Started
The sooner you get started, the sooner you can begin cycling to improve your mental and physical health. The first thing you need to do is get yourself a bike. Your local bike store assistant will be able to recommend a bike that will suit the style of riding you plan to do. For example, you might be planning to traverse mountain trails, in which case a mountain bike would be ideal. But if you plan to just ride around town, then a road bike is the better choice. For those who want some variety, a hybrid bike offers the best of both worlds.
While cycling has obvious health benefits for adults, it has similar benefits for children. According to the folk at Woom, you can buy lightweight bikes for kids and adults that will make riding safer and much more comfortable. The whole family can then go for bike rides or cycling vacations that are not only great fun but also great for health.
Conclusion
Regular physical exercise is important for good health, and there are lots of ways that you can get this exercise. Cycling is just one of them. The great thing about cycling is that not only is it an excellent low-impact form of exercise, but it is also a useful mode of transport and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Using your bike to get from A to B makes it easy to achieve the recommended 150 minutes of exercise each week.
