What are the health benefits of cycling?

January

What are the health benefits of cycling?

On health forums and social media platforms, we often come across many questions like: “What are the benefits of cycling?”, “What does cycling do for you?”, or “Is cycling a good exercise?”. The answer is that cycling offers numerous health benefits. It not only improves physical health but also boosts mental well-being, helping to reduce anxiety and stress.

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Cycling helps with weight control

When we habitually cycle daily, especially at a high intensity, it significantly reduces body fat, helping us manage our weight and maintain a healthy body.
Additionally, cycling increases your metabolism and builds muscle. As a result, your body will burn more calories during physical activity.

Reducing Impact on Joints and Lowering the Risk of Leg Injuries

When you run, the joints in your legs bear the full weight of your body. Prolonged impact can lead to injuries. On the other hand, when you cycle, your body weight is supported by your quadriceps and hamstrings, which reduces the pressure on your knees and ankles significantly.
Scientists worldwide have conducted studies comparing the risk of muscle damage between regular runners and cyclists. They found that runners were 133–134% more likely to experience muscle damage and 87% more likely to suffer from muscle soreness than cyclists.

Cycling’s Impact on Improving Mental Health

A study by the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) showed that people who lead active lives have 32% higher mental health scores than those who are less active. This proves that regular exercise boosts your mental state. Cycling releases adrenaline and endorphins, which contribute to positive feelings. Additionally, exercising can also help you gain more confidence as you achieve new skills and goals.
Cycling combines outdoor exercise with the opportunity to explore new areas. You can ride alone to enjoy some personal time or cycle with friends to strengthen relationships and connect with others who share your interests.

Cycling Helps Keep Our Lungs Healthy

This may seem counterintuitive because when cycling, we are directly breathing in outdoor air and may be exposed to more dust and pollution compared to others. However, a recent study showed that cyclists are exposed to fewer harmful pollutants than people driving cars.
In a study by the Healthy Air Campaign, conducted by King’s College London and Camden Council, cyclists, pedestrians, bus riders, and car drivers were equipped with air quality monitors as they traveled through some of the busiest streets in London. The results showed that car drivers were exposed to five times more polluted air than cyclists, 3.5 times more than pedestrians, and 2.5 times more than bus riders. Therefore, cycling exposes us to the least pollution compared to other forms of transportation.

Reducing the Risk of Heart Disease and Cancer

Cycling increases our heart rate, which helps blood circulate more efficiently throughout the body, burns excess calories, and contributes to weight loss and overall health. Therefore, cycling is one of the exercises recommended by the NHS (National Health Service in the UK) as a healthy activity that reduces the risk of serious diseases related to the heart and cancer.
A study from the University of Glasgow has confirmed this. The study, conducted over five years with 260,000 volunteers, found that cycling to work could reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer by half.