August 11, 2010

Benefits of Walking and Biking Exercises

Posted in Category : Alternate Therapies

Walking and Biking

Walking and biking are both good forms of exercise. These exercises are inexpensive and can be performed without the guidance of a physical trainer.
Walking is a light form of exercise which leads to a cyclical loading and unloading of weight on each of the legs. It helps reduce calories and cures a number of ailments. Some of the advantages of walking are listed below:

  • First and foremost, walking helps burn calories gradually. Walking for 30 minutes a day for five days a week helps burn 13 to 15 pounds a year, thereby preventing obesity and the ailments associated with it.
  • Walking helps cure diabetes mellitus type II by increasing the sensitivity of cells to the pancreatic hormone insulin.
  • Walking helps prevent osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. It exerts pressure on the muscles in a cyclic fashion, and thereby helps your bones accommodate the pressure easily. As such, walking helps prevents afflictions of the skeletal system.
  • Walking also helps enhance memory and concentration. It reduces depressions, stress and anxiety, and serves to alleviate mood.
  • Walking also helps prevent breast cancer in females.

On the other hand, biking or cycling is a form of aerobic exercise which is slightly more challenging than walking. It is extremely good for health. Some of the health benefits of biking are as follows:

  • Biking helps you sweat or perspire a lot, which in turn helps regulate the body temperature. It also removes toxins from the body, thereby helping prevent cancer and also symptoms of ageing.
  • Biking is a good exercise to build stamina and help you perform better in your day-to-day activities.
  • Biking helps burn calories and thereby helps reduce your waistline.
  • Biking also keeps a check on your blood pressure and prevents ailments like hypertension and arteriosclerosis, which can even lead to a heart attack. It gives a work out to your lungs and heart muscles, thereby preventing coronary afflictions.
  • Biking helps tone your body and muscles. It strengthens the muscles of your thighs and back and also your calf muscles. It can be a good exercise for body builders as well.

Both walking and biking are good for health. However, walking can be carried out by people of all age groups and health states while this is not the case with biking. Generally speaking, if you are looking for a more vigorous workout, you should opt for biking; however, if you want to be slow.