Why we should choose to be active
"Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health." ___Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Regular physical activity lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure and some cancers, improves sleep, controls stress, and helps to keep body weight in check. But being active regularly can be tough.
City life is busy, and whether we are at work or at play, squeezing in time for exercise can be difficult. Luckily, to reap the benefits of being active does not require training for an Ironman. One easy way to get a regular dose of exercise is to turn your commute active by walking or cycling (Live too far from work? Turning part of your commute active also has benefits!)
A study by researchers at Glasgow University (1) has found that walking and cycle commuting lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease incidence by 27% and 46% respectively. Additionally, cycle commuting also lowers the risk of cancer incidence by 45% and mortality by any cause by 41%.
Other studies have also concluded that habitual cycling may be associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes (2) and have shown that cycling to work can reduce stress and enhance productivity during the day (3).
Taking an active commute has additional benefits too: our journey times are not dictated by traffic conditions or service delays; there's no need to squeeze onto overcrowded transport; and, we think it is more fun too!
As the CDC puts it, "regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health." Start living an active life today!
(1) Celis-Morales CA, Lyall DM, Welsh P, Anderson J, Steell L, Guo Y et al. (2017) Association between active commuting and incident cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality: prospective cohort study. BMJ 2017;357:j1456. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j1456
(2) Rasmussen MG, Grøntved A, Blond K, Overvad K, Tjønneland A, et al. (2016) Associations between Recreational and Commuter Cycling, Changes in Cycling, and Type 2 Diabetes Risk: A Cohort Study of Danish Men and Women. PLOS Medicine 13(7): e1002076. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002076
(3) Brutus S, Javadian R, Panaccio AJ, (2017) "Cycling, car, or public transit: a study of stress and mood upon arrival at work", International Journal of Workplace Health Management, Vol. 10 Issue: 1, pp.13-24, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-10-2015-0059
Please stay tuned for our future posts by subscribing to our mailing list. You can sign up in the "follow us" section on the bottom of the page and also find us on social media!