“99 ABC’s of Wellness” Article Credit: The original article 99 ABC’s of Wellness is by Mylene Mendoza-Dayrit, which has appeared on the Philippine Star on January 12, 1999.
Principle #13: Benefits of Biking
From baking soda, let us now go to biking. Well, it is "a good aerobic activity whether done indoors or outdoors." (excerpt from the original article)
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), physical inactivity is second to tobacco smoking as a health risk in developed countries. If that is the case, one can decrease his health risk by stopping cigarette smoking and starting to increase physical activity.
Biking is a good physical activity that can help burn many calories and build muscles without the need of lifting heavy weights. Done indoors, working out on stationary bike can help burn calories without putting too much strain on the knees compared to cycling on a real bike. In fact, it is a good rehab work out for people with knee or leg injury.
However, optimum result can be achieved on the real bike. Dr. Edward Coyle at the University of Texas in Austin has formulated a way of computing the calories a cyclist will burn at a particular cycling speed.
For instance, a 140-pound man biking at 20 mph will burn 35 calories per mile (140 pounds x 0.25 calories/pound), and a 160-pound man biking at the same speed will burn 40 calories per mile (160 pounds x 0.25 calories/pound). The heavier you are, the more calories per mile you will burn (www.eHow.com).
Like swimming, cycling is a healthy activity that the family can enjoy. It is not only good for the body, it is fun. I remember learning how to ride a bike in my childhood days. It has been a lot of fun.
However, cycling is also a dangerous sport so if you want to try biking make sure you wear proper safety gear.
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