Coronavirus restrictions have been a boon for many industries, including the cycling sector.
Never have there been so cyclists on the streets and it is a low impact type of aerobic activity that is good for a person’s health and fitness.
“We’re the new toilet paper and everyone wants a piece,” Grant Kaplan, manager of Giant Sydney, a bike store in Sydney’s CBD, told The Guardian in April.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults perform at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity, such as cycling, every week.
Here are the reasons why:
Cardiovascular health: Research led by Carlos Celis-Morales, Research Fellow at BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, Glasgow University, in Scotland, in 2017 suggested that people who cycle to work experience notable health benefits, including improved cardiovascular functioning. In addition to a 46% lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease, commuters who cycle to work also have a 52% lower risk of dying from the condition.
Blood pressure: Physical activity, such as cycling, is thought be the primary way to prevent high blood pressure, or hypertension, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Three months of constant cycling reduced blood pressure by 4.3%, and after six months, it may be reduced by 11.8%. A 2017 study said cycling was an effective method to lower blood pressure in people with Type 2 diabetes.
Weight loss: Cycling is useful exercise to reduce body fat and body mass as it increases the metabolic rate, builds muscle and burns body fat. Evidence suggests that based on a person’s body type, they can burn up to 300 calories per hour with moderate cycling. If a person increases the intensity, they can burn even more calories in less time.
Lung health: Cardiorespiratory health also can be improved by cycling for about 170–250 minutes per week. Exercise such as cycling is important to keep the lungs healthy.
Mental health: Provided you are not swooped on by a magpie, cycling has been linked to improved mental health. In addition to improving cognitive function, regular exercise may help reduce anxiety and depression.
