World Bicycle Day 2020: No Better Occasion To Learn Health Benefits Of Cycling

As the world celebrates the simple, affordable, and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation, there cannot be a better time to learn the life-changing health benefits of cycling.

The United Nations (UN) encourages the use of bicycles as a means of fostering physical education for young people, promoting health, preventing diseases, and facilitating social inclusion.

For starters, cycling is a low-impact aerobic exercise that can also be used as a mode of transport and comes with a lot of health benefits. The cycling intensity can vary depending on if it's being done as a casual activity or an intense competitive endeavor. Cycling is fun, healthy and a low-impact form of exercise that can easily fit into your daily routine.

Be informed of these amazing health benefits of cycling:

1. Promotes Healthy Weight Management

Cycling is suitable for everyone-- irrespective of age and fitness levels. It aids weight loss by burning calories. Depending on a person’s weight and exertion level, cycling can help burn up to 670 calories within 30 minutes. It is a great option for those looking for weight loss. Apart from burning calories, it can slim down and tone up your thighs, waist, and buttocks.

2. Prevents Lifestyle Diseases

Cycling can help both prevent as well as manage emerging health conditions or the existing ones. Regular cycling can help people avoid sedentary lifestyles and the accompanying health conditions. It can prevent cardiovascular conditions including heart attack and stroke, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes.

3. Improves Leg Strength

Cycling improves overall function in your lower body, especially that of your leg muscles. It helps strengthen your quads, glutes, hamstrings as well as your calf muscles.

4. Improves Core Strength

It also works out the muscles of your core including that of the abdomen and back. Keeping your posture upright and the bicycle in the position itself can add some amount of core strength. You will also develop strong back and abdominal muscles and increased stability while cycling.

5. Reduces Cancer Risk

Researchers who studied the link between exercise and cancer have reported that regular cycling lowers one’s risk of breast cancer.

6. Promotes Bone Health

Not only does cycling improve strength, balance, and coordination, but it can also prevent falls and fractures. It is a highly recommend form of exercise for those suffering from osteoarthritis since it is a very low-impact workout that puts very little stress on the joints.

7. Promotes Mental Well-being

Regular cycling also reduces one’s risk of developing mental health conditions including depression and anxiety. Both the exercise and the enjoyment that riding a bicycle brings, improves mood, and enhances a person’s mental health.