Sharp, short burst of exercise are more beneficial
Active people live longer, and short stints of intense exercise are better for the heart than just plodding along, according to a new study.
Conducted with 5,000 cyclists in Copenhagan by Dr Peter Schnohr, he says: "this study suggests that a greater part of the daily physical activity in leisure time should be vigourous, based on the individuals own perception of intensity."
But don't just plod if you want a longer life. People who are not used to cycling should not start doing it short and sharp.
Dr Schnohr has argued that governments should advise people to take activity in more vigorous bursts as well as taking regular moderate exercise.
Perhaps we should be taking a leaf out of Copenhagan's book. Every day they travel 660,000 kilometers by metro (train) but cycle 1.2 million kilometres - almost double the amount.
With more than one third of the population in Copenhagen commuting daily by bike, cities around the world are being inspired by Copenhagen to increase usage of bicycles as a means of transportation. Biking is mutually beneficial. Bikers save money, get exercise and spare the environment for co2 emission.
The Danish cycling culture is one of the reasons why the Union Cycliste Inernationale (UCI) has appointed Copenhagen as the first Bike City ever culminating with the World Road Race Championship, which took place this month.
The big focus on cycling has affected the people of Copenhagen and influenced the interest in sports cycling, and, together with a solid bet in infrastructure, has made even more unhabitants to get the convienient exercise from biking everyday. This has proven long-term implicaitons for bother health and the length of life for residents.
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