Cycling is a fun way to spend your time, whether alone or in a good company. Through the city crowd or in the countryside, any time of day or night, a good bicycle ride is something to enjoy. However, the good effects of cycling don’t end there. Cycling is also good for your health, and here are the top five benefits of cycling on your body and mind.
It helps you lose weight 
As is the case with all kinds of physical exercise, cycling will burn your body fat and help you reduce your weight. Regular cycling is a very convenient type of exercise, since it’s simple to do, you don’t need an instructor to do it and you can choose when and for how long you want to do it. Plus, you can adjust the intensity of the exercise to your needs and fitness level. And even if you decide to cycle moderately, you’ll still be burning calories. So, if you have weight issues, get a bike and try combining cycling and a balanced diet for best results.
It improves your cardiovascular function
Cycling is basically a cardio exercise, so when you cycle, your heart beats faster and your circulation improves. This means your blood pressure gets normalized and your heart muscle becomes stronger and healthier. Cycling also helps lower your pulse while resting and it can even reduce the levels of fat in your blood, which could protect you from heart disease and even stroke. Plus, the fact that you lose weight when cycling makes it easier for your heart to function and your blood pressure to remain within healthy limits.
It’s good for your mental health
Any type of exercise will help boost your mood and reduce tension, but cycling has the advantage of being very simple and available to most people. All you need is a bike, and buying one can be as simple as visiting a well-equipped online bicycle store. Having fun and being physically active while cycling releases Adrenalin and endorphin’s, taking your mind off your problems, making you feel more confident and simply good about yourself. It will allow you to sleep better and will improve your brain power. On top of that, it’s an outdoor activity, so you get to spend a lot of time in the fresh air, choosing whether to do it alone or find a cycling pal to socialize with. All of these points combined will not only relieve you of stress, but may help you with any anxiety or depression you might experience.
It tones and strengthens your muscles
Cycling activates and exercises all the major muscle groups, so you get a full workout routine by riding your bike. Obviously, the resistance your legs encounter when pedaling tones your calves and thighs, but that’s not all. Since you use your arms for balancing the bicycle, arm muscles are strengthened, too. All your muscles become more flexible. Also, cycling is considered a low-impact exercise, so there’s no pressure on your bones and joints. Actually, your joint mobility can also be improved by cycling, and it can even help with osteoarthritis and knee pain. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, make sure you always wear protective gear, especially a helmet, when riding a bike.
It fights diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a major health problem, a condition which is often caused by lack of physical activity and obesity. Diabetes also increases the chances of getting various and very serious diseases, such as stroke, kidney disease and not to mention heart disease. Cycling can help you prevent diabetes and the disease can even be controlled by being physically active, which includes riding a bike. How? Well, when you exercise, the glucose in your cells is spent. Cells then draw the glucose from your blood, converting it into energy, helping your blood sugar levels to normalize. All in all, regular cycling boosts your immunity and your overall health, so it can only be useful to your body when battling diabetes, especially when combined with healthy meals.
Don’t waste your time. You’ve read the article, now get that bike out of your garage or buy yourself a new one, but hurry up and start cycling for life. The mere joy of it is worth it, and the health benefits will present themselves to you one by one, without you even expecting them to.
Guest Blogger Luke Douglas, he can be contacted through mrlukeidouglas@gmail.com and at https://ripped.me/
