It has long been studied and proven that there are countless benefits to exercise. To list every benefit of exercise would take forever. Exercise is the single most effective method to preventing many forms of illness and ensuring that the body is functioning effectively, inside and out.

Not only does exercise improve your physical well-being, but studies also conclude that exercise, even in small doses, increases overall emotional well-being. A little bit of exercise can go a long way.

The physical benefits of exercise include but are not limited to the following:

• Weight loss
• Increased energy
• Decreased risk of heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis
• Increased strength and muscle definition
• Increased circulation, coordination and balance

The emotional benefits of exercise include but are not limited to the following:

• Reduction in depression
• Decreased stress
• Improved self-esteem and body image
• Increased ability to focus and keeps the brain sharp.

The key to good health is eating right, watching your weight, and making exercise a habit. Regular exercise in varying different forms can offer increased health benefits. New research suggests that adding a bike ride to the exercise routine can offer lasting benefits.

New Research for Premenopausal Women

There have been recent studies that not only support the long proven benefits of exercise but look further into how specific types of exercise can benefit different groups of people. These recent studies have zoned in on the specific benefits that biking has on physical and emotional well-being, especially in premenopausal women.

Women looking to maximize on the benefits of an exercise regime are strongly encouraged to add bicycling into their regular routine. Research suggests that biking even for a few minutes a day offers benefits that far outweigh those of just walking, especially for premenopausal women.

Research also recommends that all adults should engage in some form of moderate activity on a daily basis. Maintaining one's weight requires exercising three times a week, and more to drop weight. A recent study that focused specifically on premenopausal women showed that bicycling approximately three hours per week decreases the chances for women to gain weight by 46%.

Obesity is an increasingly alarming problem across the country. Studies show that premenopausal women are naturally more susceptible to weight gain than many other groups. According to these recent studies, women who made a habit of incorporating biking into their regular exercise regime gained less weight overall than those who did not engage in any form of biking. Regular bikers gained less weight and kept this weight off over a longer period of time.

Managing weight is a natural part of being healthy. Increased knowledge of how to maintain a healthy lifestyle can help people improve their overall health and emotional well-being. The new research offers a new perspective for women that can make managing weight a little bit easier, as well as a way to guard against other types of illness and preventable medical problems.