Fun, relaxing and healthy
Dutch people are cyclists. And that’s a good thing, because cycling is not only fun and relaxing, but also super healthy. Those who regularly spin the pedals are just as fit as people who are ten years younger.
No country in the world is as bicycle-friendly as the Netherlands. Hardly any mountains and valleys, cycle paths and signposts everywhere, and a varied landscape. The Dutch are cyclists and we should keep it that way. Because cycling is super healthy.
Cycling makes you young and keeps you fit. It is written in black and white in the report ‘Cycling is green, healthy and economical’ by TNO: whoever cycles for ten to fifteen minutes every day can improve his condition by no less than thirteen percent. A bit of firm pedaling, with an average speed of eighteen kilometers per hour, is required. Those who regularly rotate the pedals appear to be just as fit as people who are ten years younger. Regular exercise also helps the blood pressure, blood sugar levels and the cholesterol level to keep under control.
less sick
One study after another shows that cycling directly has many beneficial effects on health. For example, the TNO report also states that cycling to work reduces absenteeism due to illness. Regular cycling should even novice type 2 diabetes can reverse.
Cycling also helps to keep the scales in balance. The RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) calls it ‘a promising measure to prevent overweight’. Cycling is ideal for people who struggle with a few or many extra pounds. Enjoying nature, you burn calories almost unnoticed and improve your condition.
Mice blow away…
Regularly hitting the pedals offers many more benefits. Like relaxation. Cycling in the open air will blow your mind. It reduces stress, an important risk factor for heart and vascular disease. Movement also stimulates the production of endorphins in the brain, among other things. These substances improve the mood and are therefore also called ‘happy hormones’. They are natural antidepressants, with no nasty side effects.
No wonder you feel like all the hassles have been chased away after a bike ride. And we’re not there yet, because research shows that cycling reduces fatigue, the night’s sleep promotes and increases self-confidence. Half an hour of exercise a day, at least five days a week, is therefore highly recommended by experts.
The blood flows faster
With every step on the pedals, the leg muscles are put to work. The muscles in the arms and trunk help to keep your body in balance and to steer. And when the respiratory muscles start working a little harder, extra blood is needed for the supply of oxygen, forcing the heart to work harder. It pumps blood through the arteries faster, which is healthy. It is therefore not surprising that people who cycle regularly have an 11 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
It’s so easy…
The nice thing about cycling is that you can do it anytime and anywhere. All you need is a good bike. Our country is blessed with a great network of bike paths, so you can map out a nice route everywhere. In Flanders and in more and more parts of the Netherlands there is a cycle route network, also known as a cycle junction network. The places where cycle paths intersect have a number: the cycling nodes. You can map out your own route from one numbered node to another. At each node there is an information panel with an overview map.
Sources):
- Plus Magazine
