Cycling is a sport that has proven many positive effects on muscle growth and mental health, but it has an unexpected benefit. It can slow down aging. A new study by Ross Pollock, Katie O’Brien, and their team found that cycling slowed down muscle deterioration among the elderly. They analyzed the vastus lateralis muscle, the largest part of the quad, of cyclists between the ages of 55-79 who were deemed highly active. They then analyzed their aerobic power and found that their muscle mass and strength stayed intact, as compared to the nonmoving population, who faced major deterioration. Another study, also by Ross D. Pollock, found that cycling can help preserve a person’s immune system and its ability to fight against disease. Specifically, cycling can help preserve the thymus, the part of the body that produces white blood cells, that begins to shrink in the sedentary population. The researchers collected blood samples of both the sedentary and cycling population, and while cycling did not prevent the decline of every part of the immune system, the white cell count of the older population was comparable to that of the white blood cell count of the younger population. Cycling has also proven positive effects on mitochondrial count and telomere length, along with many other positive things.
Exercise is a positive thing that many people are beginning to steer away from. But the positive effects on the quad muscles, heart muscles, immune system, bicep muscles, and many others prove that exercise is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. Cycling is one of my favorites due to how easy it is to get into it and how tailored it is to any individuals style of exercising. But truthfully, if you maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout your entire life, in your golden years, you will not only still be able to move as well as in your youth, but also live longer than most of your peers. So, do not miss the opportunity to exercise. Doing it, along with dieting and eating right, will lead to an overall healthier life. And you will end up feeling a lot better about yourself, which I will expand on in the next blog. “How cycling can help with mental health.” Do not miss the next chapter of Paarth’s Cycling Space!
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