Struggling to keep up with the professional and personal commitments? Has the stress started to take toll on your daily activities? Cycling may help. In addition to being the one of the best ways to be fit and reduce weight, cycling regularly can also keep unwanted stress and anxiety at bay. One of the biggest curse of modern urban lifestyle, stress can affect your body, your thoughts and feelings, and your behavior. If left unaddressed, stress can also contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, diabetes and depression.
R.M. Anjana, Managing Director at Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre and Deepali Badoni, Physiotherapist at AktivHealth Clinic, talk about the benefits of cycling. "Cycling is an aerobic exercise which has several health benefits. It reduces the risk of heart diseases. The activity boosts production of chemicals like serotonin, dopamine and phenylethylamine in the brain that makes you feel happy and keeps depression at bay."
They also added that static cycling could be a better bet for people suffering from knee or joint pain.
Those suffering from diabetes may want to take extra caution while taking up the activity. They
should make sure that they are well-hydrated while cycling. Carrying some light carbohydrate based snacks if they are cycling for more than an hour, is one precautionary measure Type- 1 diabetes people can ensure.
Speaking of the overall health benefits of cycling, the experts say that cycling is definitely one of the best and most fun forms of physical activity one can engage himself in. "It is easy on the hip and knee joints and still engages your legs to provide a sense of freedom". Cycling is also known to reduce the blood cholesterol levels improving your heart and lungs function thus staving off the risks for cardio-vascular diseases.
Stress and anxiety has got a lot to do with your lifestyle and diet. And most of it could be reversed by just eating well, getting a good sleep and indulging in some form of exercise.
Apart from cycling and similar other light physical activity, there are several healthy foods that can help keep stress at bay.
1. LentilsPacked with vitamin B which is known to reduce fatigue and tiredness, lentils can work wonders to rev up your energy levels, while combating pre-existing stress and anxiety.
2. BananaBananas are rich in vitamin C which is an effective stress fighting nutrient. Bananas also help repair cell damage caused due to stress.
3. YogurtThe calcium content of yogurt can help cut down stress effectively. It also has good bacteria that kill anxiety and depression. Have them with your meals or blend it in your smoothies, but don't forget to have yogurt as much as possible
4. CoconutCoconut contains medium chain fats that improve our mental health and cut down negativity. Did you know, that the scent of the coconut is also known to have a psychological effect that helps reduce anxiety and slows out heart rate.
5. OatsA bowl of oats and some fresh fruits finished off with a drop of honey right in the morning will keep your mood swings in place. Oat meal boosts positive energy as it is considered to be a serotonin enhancer, also known as the happiness hormone.
(Inputs IANS)