Several Health Benefits of Cycling

Being physically active helps you to be fit and healthy. It also protects you from serious diseases such as heart disease, obesity, mental illness, cancer, arthritis and diabetes. One of the best ways to reduce the risk of health problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle is through cycling.

Here are some health benefits associated with cycling:

One of the easiest ways to exercise

Most of us know how to cycle and once you have learned, you don’t forget. With a bike, you can exercise almost anywhere at any time without spending a fortune.

It improves cardio-vascular fitness

Your cardiovascular capacity relates to your body's ability to provide oxygen and fresh blood to the muscles during exercise. The more you train your body during cardio exercise such as cycling, the better your body becomes at maintaining high levels of oxygen in your bloodstream, ready for use by your straining muscles.

It builds strength and muscle tone

As most of you may think of, cycling not only involves the legs, it also builds strength in a holistic manner since every single part of the body is involve in this kind of exercise. Cycling is basically an endurance sport typified by high numbers of repetitions with low resistance. This type of activity improves general muscle function gradually. It has also little risk of over exercise or strain. Doing it regularly strengthens leg muscles and is great for the mobility of hip and knee joints. Specifically, you’ll see an improvement in the muscle tone of your legs, thighs, rear end and hips.

It eats up calories

Cycling also helps you achieve your weight loss goals as it burn calories by increasing your heart rate. Depending on your weight and exertion level, it will help you lose weight by burning off between 75-670 extra calories within a half-hour session. And since it helps build muscle, it also boosts your metabolic rate even after you’ve finished your ride.

It builds stamina

Stamina refers to your body's ability to endure extended periods of exercise. Riding a bike is one way to build stamina if you combine longer ride sessions with set training programs. By doing it regularly, it will make your body used to drawing on energy stores for a long time without getting too fatigued. It is very effective because people enjoy cycling and that they wouldn’t really notice that they have gone farther the last time they went cycling.

It reduces stress

Whatever your reasons for cycling, one thing’s for sure – it can be as good for your state of mind as it is for your body. Cycling is one of the most effective treatments for stress and in many cases has been proven to be as effective as medication. This kind of exercise forces you to regulate your breathing, as well as to breathe deeper to expel any lingering CO2, which are both key methods used to alleviate stress in non-riders. Thus, you are practicing proven clinical techniques while cycling. Moreover, any regular exercise can reduce stress and depression and improve well-being and self-esteem.

Bicycling, along with being the most efficient mode of human locomotion, is also one of the best all-around activities for improving our health. So, why not take advantage of the healthy benefits of cycling? From head to toes, cycling’s health benefits are hard to beat.