by Joe Watkins Jr

Created on: May 17, 2009

Cycling for health and happiness

Sure, we can run for our health and still get where we're going in terms of distance and our health goals, whatever those may be. However, isn't cycling more fun, just as scenic, and we can meet more of our health goals? Sure to that also!

Cycling, biking, pedaling, any way you choose to call it, gets you there faster than a car, and just as fast as running. You may not get that "bikers high" that runner's talk of, but you will feel better cycling as opposed to running. Cycling also protects against a wide range of health problems. Cycling reduces the risks of high blood pressure and since you're bound to lose weight can reduce obesity, and even all of the common types of diabetes.

Just starting out? Even new bikers say some experts, who are just starting out can reduce the risk of death by 22%, mainly because biking reduces heart disease. Another way to think of cycling is aerobic exercise. Latest studies by the government say it meets the target for exercising a minimum of 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week. And if your wondering how the aerobics ties in, cycling is enjoyable therefore it tends to makes you happy. That is, it improves self esteem, raises mood levels therefore relieving stress, anxiety and depression and is known to also relieve premenstrual syndrome symptoms in women.

Other great benefits also include strength conditioning. In older people there are studies that have found that cycling can reduce the injuries related to falls. The strength combined with coordination from regular exercise while cycling helps to lessen the occurrence of falling. Leg strength improves greatly when cycling, and older people, who don't exercise as much, as well as younger fit people studies have shown, allow people to move out of chairs and improve other mobility as well. This improvement in mobility reduces the risk of falls, therefore less broken bones and costly hip replacements.

People of all ages can ride a bike or partake in cycling, even if to start out slow at first. People of all sizes, weights, and fitness levels can (and should) cycle. As always anyone with any type of cardiac or certain muscular conditions should consult their physician of course. Cycling is one of the very few physical activities that almost any one can participate in as part of a daily exercise regimen. So get out there and not only enjoy the weather and the scenery, but get out and ride for healthy mental well being, and overall good physical health.

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