Benefits of Cycling #3: Live Longer!!
“King’s College London compared more than 2,400 identical twins and found those who did the equivalent of just three 45-minute rides a week were nine years ‘biologically younger’ even after discounting other influences, such as body mass index (BMI) and smoking.“Those who exercise regularly are at significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, all types of cancer, high blood pressure and obesity,” says Dr Lynn Cherkas, who conducted the research. “The body becomes much more efficient at defending itself and regenerating new cells.”
To read the entire article, click here: https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/fitness-and-training/30-great-benefits-of-cycling/
Cycling Benefit #2: Healthier Lungs & Pollution Reduction
Researchers at Imperial College London found passengers in buses, taxis, and cars inhaled substantially more pollution and ultrafine particles, which can settle in the lungs and damage cells, than cyclists and pedestrians. Here’s the breakdown:
Taxi passengers >100,000 cm3
Bus passengers < 100,000 cm3
Car passengers ~ 40,000 cm3
Cyclists/Walkers ~ 8,000 cm3
It’s thought that, since cyclists ride at the edge of the road, they aren’t directly in the line of exhaust smoke as are vehicle passengers.
Other environmental benefits:
– 20 bicycles can be parked in the same space as one car.
– It takes around 5% of the materials and energy to build a bike than a car
– A bike produces zero air pollution.
– You travel around three times faster than walking.
– You get the equivalent of 2,924 miles to the gallon when biking.
Check out all the cycling benefits, here
Cycling Benefit #1: Strengthens Your Brain!
“Exercise stimulates the growth of new connections between cells in cortical areas of the brain.
A UCLA study showed exercise makes it easier for the brain to grow neuronal connections. This helps with the general power of the brain but also aids the regrowth of axons on damaged cells after a nerve crush injury, the study revealed.
Exercise can also aid brain function later in life. “It boosts blood flow and oxygen to the brain, which fires and regenerates receptors, explaining how exercise helps ward off Alzheimer’s,” says Professor Arthur Kramer of the University of Illinois.
A 2019 study also found cycling improved executive functions. These are the processes that enable planning, attention focus and observation, to name just three.”
Check out the full article and learn about all 27 benefits here.
Spotting “Healthy” Ultra-Processed Foods
How does your processed foods knowledge stack up? If the ingredient list is full of unrelated items that are hard to pronounce, steer clear! Learn how you can avoid ultra-processed junk in your food with these tips!
Always Read Food Labels!
BUYER BEWARE! Always read the nutrition label with any new-to-you prepared foods. You may think you’re making healthy choices, but often there are ridiculous amount of added sugars, preservatives, and junk. Check out this Trader Joe’s Coleslaw Kit. 28 grams of sugar – that’s almost as much as a bowl of ice cream (34g)!!