Among the many benefits of cycling, they most important one and the one you should care most about is that to your health. Cycling benefits your health tremendously whether its your physical health, by making your body stronger, or mental, by just keeping you happier.
Here are some specific health benefits of cycling you should know and embrace
Benefits of cycling to physical health
Improvements in cardiovascular health ❤️
Cycling Strengthens your heart muscles and lowers resting pulse and blood fat levels, thus reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure.
Strengthening of muscles and bones 🦴
Cycling works-out your legs including quads, hamstrings and calves. It additionally also engages engages the core and back, thus improving your endurance and muscle tone without stressing your joints. Cycling is also known to boosts bone density, especially with uphill or off-road cycling
Enhancing joint mobility 🦵
Cycling involves low-impact smooth, circular pedaling motion. Compared to something like running, this is much more gentle on hips, knees, and ankles, hence being a great means of relatively intensive exercise for people with arthritis or joint issues
Building lung capacity 🌬️
A relatively intense exercise like cycling trains your lungs to use oxygen more efficiently, thus increasing stamina and reducing feelings of breathlessness over time.
Help with fat burn and weight loss 🔥
Cycling can help burn 400–1000 calories per hour depending on intensity. Furthermore, the metabolism rate remains boosted even after the ride (afterburn effect). This aids in maintainingi a healthy body fat percentage.
Boost to the immune system 🛡️
Moderate, regular cycling exercise is known to strengthen body’s immune response.
Improves coordination and balance 🤸♂️
Cycling helps develop a stronger sense of spatial awareness and balance which can be important in reducing fall risks later in life.
An eco-friendly means of exercise 🌍
Cycling not only benefits your health, but by replacing driving for commute, you can help with cleaner air and thus better respiratory health for everyone around as well
Benefits of cycling to mental health and well-being
Cycling reduces stress, anxiety, and depression 🧘♀️
Outdoor cycling acts as a powerful mood enhancer through release of endorphins (a.k.a the “happy hormones”). In addition, just the rhythmic pedaling can be meditative for your mind
Powering the brain and memory 🧠
Cycling increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, thus enhancing focus, creativity, and mental sharpness and helping prevent age-related cognitive decline
Helping sleep better 😴
Regular cycling riders are know to often report falling asleep faster and experiencing deeper sleep by balancing cortisol (stress hormone) levels which can otherwise disrupt sleep.