Did you know that more women are likely to die of heart attack than men or are likely to show signs of anxiety and depression than men? While some health issues are common to both men and women and can affect them differently, certain health issues are unique to women, such as pregnancy, breast cancer, menopause, and issues related to reproductive organs. But there is a way to prevent the onset of all these diseases – through cycling.
Cycling for women goes a long way to keep diseases at bay, prolongs life span, and allows you to live a happy life. Considering how chaotic a woman’s daily life is, healthy living may take a back seat to work, household chores, busy schedules, and more. This is where self-determination steps can help.
Since we have been under lockdown, we have started taking greater care of our health. From keeping a watch on what we consume to conquering our fitness goals, many of us have strived to change our habits and lifestyle. Working women who were, earlier, not able to spare time for workouts have by now tried out various home exercise regimes and fitness routines.
But while you are at it, did you know that cycling could prove highly beneficial for you? Cycling is a vigorous exercise to keep your body fitness soaring high. Irrespective of age, cycling for women has proven to have incredible effects on their health.
Given the current scenario, it is recommended you stay home as much as possible. But, if your house and the locality surrounding it are not under a lockdown or have fewer constraints on moving around, you can take up cycling if you haven’t already. Cycling for women is immensely beneficial, especially for those who want to look good and feel good.
Let us explore the benefits of cycling for women in detail:
1. Cycling for Women Delays the Onset of Heart Diseases, Diabetes and Cancer Risks
Cycling increases your heart rate, gets your blood pumping to the entire body, burns your calories, and limits the chances of obesity. It maintains cardiovascular fitness and improves blood circulation. Resultantly, it is a highly recommended form of exercise that cuts the risk of developing heart diseases, diabetes and reduces the risk of cancer. It lowers cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
In a research finding by the University of Glasgow, it was found that cycling cuts the riders’ risk of developing any form of cancer or heart disease by 50%. Cycling for women is associated with a lower risk of adverse health outcomes.
Studies have also established that physically active women have a lower risk of breast cancer than women who lead a sedentary lifestyle. It works the same way for women undergoing their post-menopause phase. Research conducted in Finland found that those who cycled more than 30 minutes a day had a 40% lower risk of developing diabetes.
2. Cycling for Women Elevates Vitamin D Component
An early morning cycling trip allows you to soak your body in the sunshine and absorb Vitamin D. Since the sun is a natural source of Vitamin D, it improves resistance against various diseases. Low Vitamin D often results in a low and gloomy mood. So, all women out there – Get some sunshine and Lift Your Spirits.
3. Cycling For Women Amplifies Immunity
A study relevant to the global pandemic, recently conducted in the Appalachian State University, found that exercise in the form of cycling had huge benefits on the health of the respiratory system. It aids in reducing the occurrence of the common cold. The rise in body temperature after cycling may prevent unwanted bacteria, fight infection and boost your immunity.
4. Promoting Weight Loss With Cycling
When it comes to weight loss, the equation is quite simple – ‘Calorie burn must exceed calorie intake.’ Depending upon the rider’s intensity and body weight, cycling alone can burn anywhere between 400-1000 calories per hour.
5. Cycling for Women Keeps Mental Illnesses At Bay
Cycling and exercising triggers the release of adrenaline and endorphins. It is related to a stable mood and improved confidence. Cycling is a combination of physical exercise and mental abilities such as navigation and spatial intelligence. Being outdoors and exploring new views gives you the time to process your concerns. If you are riding with a group, it broadens your social circle. Mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress can be reduced by regular cycling for women. It boosts your mood, improves body image, and makes you feel happy.
6. Cycling for Women Prevents Arthritis and Bone Injuries
More women are prone to Arthritis than men. Cycling for women is highly recommended if they primarily suffer from osteoarthritis since it is low-impact and places minimal stress on the joints. Cycling strengthens the bones, improves balance and coordination. It prevents falls and fractures.
7. Cycling for Women Strengthens Muscles
Ever felt a pull in your calves after a cycling session? Cycling strengthens your calf muscles, works on your hips and thighs, and tones up the muscles. Cycling works on your body fat, tones your body, and gets you into your desired shape.
Similarly, while you keep your hands on the handlebars, your arms also get toned in the process, even without you realizing it. Cycling for women ensures the use of various other muscles such as your core, shoulders, back, and heart. But the resistance element of cycling implies that it doesn’t just burn calories. It also builds muscle around your calves, glutes, hamstrings, and quads.
Women who cycle regularly have leaner muscles, those with a higher percentage of muscle tend to burn more calories even when sedentary.
8. Cycling for Women Builds Endurance
You may not feel it, but as you enjoy your cycling ride, your body gains endurance without any strenuous training. It strengthens your heart by working on your cardiovascular fitness and increases your lung capacity.
9. Cycling for Women Reduces Sleep Deprivation and Insomnia
These days your daily routine involves staying at home for the most part. And even when you feel mentally fatigued working from home, your body needs to feel an equal amount of tiredness to get yourself some sound sleep. It is no rocket science that tiring yourself out on a cycling trip has proved to be quite a sleep inducer.
University of Georgia researchers studied women and men aged 20-85 over a span of 35 years. It was found that a 2% drop in fitness levels for men and a 4% drop in fitness for women resulted in sleep problems. According to Cycling Weekly, Dr. Rodney Dishman, one of the lead authors, commented – “The steepest decline in cardiorespiratory fitness happens between ages 40 and 60. This is also when problems of sleep duration and quality are elevated.”
Globally, women are more sleep-deprived than men owing to domestic and household chores, work, finances, multitasking, etc. It affects their health and emotional wellbeing. Research shows that women who experience sleepless nights are at a greater risk for health problems than men. For a holistically healthy lifestyle, it is necessary to get enough rest. This is where cycling for women can help them fall asleep faster and increase their sleep duration by an hour. It allows you to rest your body and mind, reduce anxiety, and elevate the ability to sleep.
10. Cycling for Women Improves Digestion and Prevents Bloating
Women suffer from bloating before and during their menstruation cycle. It results from changes in hormones such as progesterone and estrogen. As period bloating is a Premenstrual Syndrome, regular exercise, especially in cycling, can help reduce it.
Cycling for women reduces the amount of time taken for food to move through your digestive tract. The increased heart rate and accelerated breathing achieved during cycling enable intestinal muscles to contract and prevent bloating.
11. Cycling for Women Betters Lung Health
Irrespective of age and gender, cycling works out the essential organs of your body – the heart and the lungs. They work hard to bring oxygen into the body, fuel your energy and remove carbon dioxide.
When you cycle, you improve the capacity of your lungs – the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use. The Dandyhorsemagazine suggests that “Lung function is the metric determined by the capacity of air your lungs can sustain and how swiftly you can inhale and exhale. Lung functions take care of how the lungs funnel oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from your bloodstream. While lung function cannot necessarily be improved, lung capacity and endurance can indeed be.”
If you have a lung condition or go quickly out of breath, it may diminish your motivation to exercise. But it is only regular exercise that can improve those symptoms. Cycling is an aerobic workout that is easy on joints, builds muscles, and triggers endorphins that improve mood. Additionally, resistance activities such as pushing the pedals build bones and increase bone density.
12. Cycling for Women-Necessary for Holistic Health & Wellbeing
Cycling is one of the most rewarding sports a woman can engage in – irrespective of age or activity level. Of all reasons to head out on two wheels, the best is empowerment. “Heading home after a cycling trip with a face flushed and brain buzzing is genuinely the best way to kickstart your day. The strength gained from regular cycling transpires into every other aspect of your life – be it family, friends, or work,” writes Active.