Healthy habits start with you. And riding a bike is one of the best activities you can do for your mind and body.
When you leave the car behind and let pedal power fuel your ride, everyone breathes easier. Tailpipe emissions stay garaged, clearing the air, and your physical health and emotional wellbeing can improve.
Biking boomed during the public health crisis of 2020, partially because of the relief it provided. An April study published in the Transport Review Journal showed bicycling has increased by 16 percent in the U.S. since the start of the pandemic last year.
After a long and crazy COVID year, we all deserve to feel better. Regular bike riding can be very advantageous for achieving a healthy lifestyle. Hop on a bike for Bike Month and start reaping all these health benefits.
Focusing on the Road Ahead
Riding a bike steers your mind away from negative feelings, releasing those feel-good brain chemicals called endorphins which can help keep anxiety and depression away. Exercise such as biking is a top tension-busting strategy, and when done consistently, can decrease stress levels.
When you ride outside, these benefits may be amplified. There are studies that show being active in natural environments boosts mental health.
On the Path to Feeling Fitter
Pushing pedals provides an aerobic workout, which is great for your heart, lungs, immune system, and muscles.
Riding a bike improves cardiovascular health and respiratory function.
Biking helps improve your immune response, lowering illness risk and reducing inflammation. Physical activity aids in activating several different types of immune cells, helping your body’s defense system function better.
Although it is considered a low-impact exercise, biking can strengthen muscles without overstressing them, toning your shoulders, arms, lower body, and feet.
Getting in the bike saddle will also help you sleep better. There’s a strong connection between regular physical activity and quality sleep. Exercise, like biking, can lead to deeper, more uninterrupted slumber.
Significantly, the benefits of riding a bike extend beyond the individual. Biking is good for your community and our planet: stimulating economic activity, improving traffic congestion, and cutting down on air pollutants.
To optimize all the health benefits, try biking for at least 30 minutes three times per week. While you are making plans to head out on a ride, be sure to stop by our pit stop at the Westwood Farmers' Market on Thursday, May 20, happening from noon to 2:00 p.m.
