7 Cycling Benefits You Were Not Aware Of

7 Cycling Benefits You Were Not Aware Of

Life in this age makes it a little difficult to take good care of yourself. You need to check your mental and physical health, all while juggling work, school, family and much more. With so much going on, people barely focus on physical exercises and managing stress.

Fortunately for you, cycling is one of the simple exercises that can make a big difference in your life. You already know thait makes a great physical activity; but do you know how great it is? Countless studies have been done to establish exactly what cycling does to your body. The results are mind-blowing.

Prepare to be amazed.

Cycling Makes You Age Slowly

The older you get, the more your health deteriorates. Strange things start happening to you—like throwing your back while sneezing. And that is just the easy stuff. You cannot stop the process of aging but you can make it more bearable by exercising.

When you cycle for one hour 30 minutes every day at a moderate pace, you double your chances of aging well.

The most important part that exercising (in this case cycling) plays is strengthening your immune system. Your body will be in a better position to fight off diseases and complications associated with old age.

Cycling Is Great for Weight Loss

eight loss is a very wide and often complicated topic. While some people do not need to put much effort to shed off pounds, others have to work extra hard—and sometimes even that is not enough. It is easy to just give up or resort to a quick fix.

Alternatively, you can get on your bike and put in some miles. Scientific research and personal experiences have historically shown that cycling does help with weight loss. In fact, it is one of the best ways to get healthy.

You do not need to ride like a maniac to see results. However, if you want to cut a lot of weight, you will have to push yourself. It all depends on your health and how much you want to lose. There are tons of apps that can act as your training guide. Some of the cycling exercises are pretty intense so you may want to talk to your doctor first.

Once you have attained your weight goal, continue riding your bike leisurely to stay healthy. This is something you can do with friends, family or riding buddies on apps like Zwift. You will never run out of interesting things to do on your bike.

Cycling Boosts Your Memory

This is one of the least known benefits of cycling (and exercising, in general). Further research is still underway but so far, cycling and other aerobic exercises have proven to grow your brain. This is literal in the sense that, part of your brain becomes bigger. Unbelievable!—yet true.

Everyone would like to be able to learn and remember more stuff. Sure, setting a reminder on your phone may help; but it is never enough.

Habitual riding will grow the part of your brain used for learning and memory. This is a great way to increase your productivity and make yourself more useful.

Cycling Is an Outstanding Recovery Exercise

Doing any physical activity when you have an injury can be unbearable. This is also the case when you have a condition like arthritis. Regardless of your condition, it is important to exercise and raise your heart rate.

Riding your bike is low impact. It is gentle on your muscles and ligaments. If you have a painful knee or something like that, keep fit by cycling. Make sure you consult with your doctor first.

The fact that it is a low impact also means that it is suitable for older people and children.

Cycling Helps You Sleep Better

One of the most annoying things is lying in bed at night, begging your body to go to sleep. You know you need to be well-rested for the next day but sleep just won’t come. In addition to being tired during the day, sleeplessness may cause problems for you in the long run.

Lack of sleep is caused by a few things including stress, anxiety, having screens in bed, among others. The stress hormone in your body is known as cortisol. Cycling “encourages” the body to get rid of this hormone.

Cycling keeps your circadian rhythm in sync too; especially if you do it outside. This rhythm is a daily cycle in your body’s physiological process and it largely affects your sleep pattern.

Cycling Boosts Your Self-Esteem

It is normal to feel bad about yourself sometimes. But if it becomes the norm, you have a problem. Having high self-esteem motivates you and gives you confidence. You get the courage to go harder at your goals and boost your productivity.

In bike riding, many things can give you this much-needed confidence. Think of how proud and motivated you will feel when you reach your target weight or complete a huge race. The achievements do not even have to be big to make you feel great.

Cycling Can Keep Cancer Away

The big ugly C. It is common knowledge that when you exercise, you can avoid many illnesses. What you may not know is that one of those illnesses is cancer. This study shows that cycling to work reduces the risk of cancer, chronic illnesses and death in general.

Bike riding is a fun activity, no doubt. Along with the fun comes several benefits that many people are not aware of. The simple exercise of cycling will help you sleep better, boost your immune system and leave you feeling good about yourself. You will also be able to shed off those extra pounds and unlock a healthier version of yourself. Improved memory is also a huge plus, and so is reduced stress. To top it all up you will have the privilege of aging successfully. If these reasons do not motivate you to get on your bike; what will?