When temperatures are low, cycling is not the most pleasant. And yet, riding a bicycle, even during winter, has many benefits for the body and mind. The doctor-psychiatrist, Jean-Victor Blanc, discusses the virtues of this practice on a daily basis.
- In France, 8 out of 10 people feel less stressed after cycling, according to a new study carried out by Ipsos for Lime.
- According to Jean-Victor Blanc, doctor-psychiatrist at Saint-Antoine hospital, cycling outdoors allows you to be exposed to natural light, which will act on the secretion of cortisol (stress hormone) and regulate the day/night cycle.
- In addition, electric assistance, which many bicycles are now equipped with, allows overweight or obese adults to return to physical activity.
In recent years, mechanical and electric bicycles have gained ground in cities and have established themselves as a true mode of individual transport. In addition to helping us reduce our carbon footprint, these two-wheeled vehicles reduce our stress linked to time spent in traffic jams in the car or waiting for public transport which is not always reliable. “The means of transport we use every day to get to our workplace is a determining factor in our well-being and our mood during the day”recalls Hannah Landau, communications director at Lime.
According to a new study, carried out by Ipsos for Lime among 1,000 people over 16 years old living in the inner suburbs, 83% of French people say that cycling makes them less stressed. Nearly 8 out of 10 adults believe that they start the day more relaxed after cycling through the streets of their city. 83% see this daily practice as a way to unwind at the end of the working day. “In addition, 90% of users feel more free and fulfilled after completing a bicycle journey.”
Depression, addictions: exposure to natural light “will act on the synthesis of the stress hormone”
Faced with these results, Jean-Victor Blanc, doctor-psychiatrist at Saint-Antoine hospital in Paris, returned to the benefits of cycling during a press conference on January 31. “We know that physical activity is essential for the mental health of the general population. There is no one sport that is better than another. The idea is to do an activity that we enjoy in order to be able to stick to it and make it part of a routine.”
According to the specialist, cycling is interesting in the treatment of depression and addictions. “This activity is practiced outdoors. Thus, we can benefit from natural light, which we need most in the morning when cortisol levels are highest. Light therapy will act on the synthesis of this stress hormone, synchronize our body with a natural circadian rhythm, improve sleep and reduce negative emotions.”
Electric bike: “It’s easier to get moving again”
In addition to the psychological benefits, regular cycling has also demonstrated positive effects on physical health. And for good reason, it promotes muscle strengthening and improved cardiovascular health. “Now, thanks to electric bikes, it is easier to get moving again and change your habits. In fact, electric assistance encourages less athletic patients, such as those who are overweight or obese, to cycle. removes certain resistance, because the effort provided is less intense than when using a mechanical bicycle”, concludes Jean-Victor Blanc.
