Strong immune systems response is absolutely crucial in the fight against coronavirus pandemic. Your immune system is your body’s natural defense against infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and even tumor and cancer cells.
Your immune system can recognize millions of different antigens and deploy the appropriate tactics to eradicate nearly all of them. When it’s working as it should be, this impressive defense system can protect against health problems ranging from the common cold to cancer. So, if you’re feeling in tip-top shape today, take a moment to give your immune system some appreciation – it truly is amazing.
Numerous studies have found that cycling keeps your immune system young and strong which is why cyclists, athletes and young people usually have very mild symptoms. Multiple studies have proved that cycling can not only rejuvenate but also boost your immune system.
Scientists carried out tests on 125 amateur cyclists aged 55 to 79 and compared them with healthy adults from a wide age group who did not exercise regularly. The findings showed that the anti-ageing effects of cycling appeared to extend to the immune system, helped preserve muscle mass and strength with age while maintaining stable levels of body fat, cholesterol and at the same time elevated testosterone levels.
In the United States alone, studies have shown that over 80 percent of American adults don't get the recommended amounts of exercise needed, and those statistics are shared with some other Western countries including the UK.
So cycling is a simple way to combat the decline of our immune system, and it’s something a lot of us are doing already! Therefore, cycling is a very advisable activity to do during this COVID-19 pandemic. It could also help us keep our sanity and lift our spirits. However, it is important to do it in such a way that you will not put yourself or others around you in danger. Here are some tips for you!
First, don’t cycle in very crowded places or on busy cycling lanes. If you know about a remote route and you feel fine health-wise, you should definitely go for a ride, unless your government has already imposed a limit on traveling.
Second, please try to avoid serious cycling injuries at a time when the healthcare system is becoming overwhelmed. We should keep all of the healthcare resources for those who need them the most. Don’t take any risks when cycling these days — do it for health and leisure.
Third, you should know that a very long ride or an arduous workout will deplete your glycogen reserves. Glycogen is not only used by your muscles, but it’s involved in numerous other processes in the body, including the immune system’s response to pathogens.It’s advisable to continue riding and exercising if possible, during the pandemic, but make sure to do it moderately.
Mild to moderate exercise is known to strengthen the immune system, while the opposite is true for very intense efforts. Illness risk is increased in athletes during periods of intensified training and competition. Therefore, it is not advisable to do very long and hard rides that could leave you exhausted.
Moreover, in order to help the spreading and finally win the fight with COVID-19, let’s make sure we avoid bike sharing, spinning classes, visiting crowded public places and going on group rides.
If your city has a bike-sharing system, you should stop using it. If the people that rode the bike before you were infected, they could have left the virus on the parts of the bike they touched, coughed, or sneezed on.
Therefore, if you have to use shared bikes to commute, make sure you disinfect the handlebar and the saddle before you ride. Also, don’t forget to wash your hands afterward and not touch your face in the meantime!
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