Those who cycle every day know the health benefits of it. However, if you are looking for a new hobby and want to broaden your social circle, cycling can be a great option.
Unlike other outdoor activities, cycling helps you stay fit and allows you to explore new roads in your neighbourhood. If you are looking for more motivation to start cycling, read the benefits of riding a bicycle below!
1. Cycling helps with weight loss
Do you want to lose weight quickly? Sorry, that is impossible, at least not in a healthy way! However, you can shed some extra fat by cycling daily. It will help you burn fat steadily and sustainably, if not immediately.
No, you do not have to cycle at a lightning pace for that. You can lose weight while cycling at a recreational pace. Moreover, even after parking your bicycle, your body will continue burning excess fat throughout the day.
It revs up your metabolism after a ride, and with daily cycling, your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) will increase. It means you can lose weight at a higher pace just by living.
2. Improves heart health
The sedentary lifestyle and poor food habits affect our organs, especially our hearts. However, a healthy heart is one of the benefits of riding a bicycle. Cycling is a major cardio workout, and therefore, if you do it daily, your heart will be stronger.
The British Medical Association declared that cycling 20 miles a week reduces the risk of coronary heart disease almost by half compared to sitting idle. Besides keeping the heart healthy, regular cycling also aids you in controlling diabetes which is crucial to keeping the heart healthy.
3. Makes the brain bigger and healthier
One of the little known benefits of riding a bicycle is having a sharper brain! While the process behind it is pretty complex, you will be glad to know that cycling regularly improve your memory skills, and boost concentration and overall problem-solving ability.
We are not exaggerating; cycling can actually prevent or at least slow down the risk of age-related cognitive impairments like Alzheimer’s and related diseases!
4. Ensures quality sleep
A large world population is suffering from insomnia or other sleeping disorders. You can blame it on lifestyle and genes! However, people who do not want to get used to sleeping pills from a very early age need to have a more natural or sustainable solution. Right?
We would say cycling can be an answer! It is true that most aerobatics exercises promote good sleep. However, researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine specifically reported that cycling 20 to 30 minutes daily would help people with insomnia fall asleep at least 30 minutes faster. It can also help increase the sleeping time by nearly 1 hour.
5. Upkeep mental health
You hardly see someone pensive after finishing a ride! Outdoor exercises like cycling can actually uplift your mood almost instantly. Cycling boosts the production of serotonin and dopamine, the happy hormones in the brain.
No wonder you feel tired but happier and relaxed after a bicycle ride!
Did you know that 3rd June is celebrated as World Bicycle Day every year? Comment down below. Also, tell us if you know how to ride a bicycle!
Enjoyed reading this? Then we also suggest you head to 5 Habits That Are Good For Your Liver!
