如果我们多照顾自己一点，患病概率就小一些。定期锻炼已被证明对健康有益，科学家还发现，锻炼可降低患癌症和心脏病的风险，而最好的一种锻炼是骑车上班。对我来说真是个好消息！
一项针对25万英国上班族的研究表明，骑车上班的人患癌症、心脏病的风险只有普通人的一半，步行上班的人比坐车上班的人更健康。
在全世界很多城市，骑行上班早就流行起来了。有远见的政府部门划分出自行车道保障骑车人的安全，设立安全的停放的场地以免自行车被盗。有的公司为骑车员工提供了方便的设施，这样员工到达公司可以更换衣服，做些简单清洁。这些举措是极好的，根据研究反馈：经常骑行可以降低41%无论什么原因导致的死亡风险，45%的患癌风险，46%心脏病风险。
对我而言，骑车上班更快，比其他交通工具更省钱，骑车也是我唯一的锻炼。去健身房减减肥还得付出额外的努力和金钱，而骑车在上下班的路上就把身体锻炼了。英国癌症研究中心克莱尔·海德说：“这项研究强调：将锻炼融入到日常生活中具有潜在好处，不管什么活动，只要能让你感到一点身体发热、气喘吁吁，长此以往便会大不同。“但究竟是什么让骑车成为一个最优选择？这项刊登在英国医学杂志的研究发现，并不是骑车能够减肥从而降低患病风险，可能的原因是，骑车的人更苗条，体内炎症程度更低。
当然啦，任何运动都有益处，但骑车比步行更好是因为骑车能坚持更长时间，锻炼强度也更大。格拉斯哥大学的詹森·吉尔博士说：“我们每天都得上班，如果每天都骑车上班，就不需要多大毅力就能坚持每天锻炼。”于我，骑车是最好的锻炼，也是我最爱的锻炼，我从不穿紧身的莱卡骑行服，我只戴个头盔，因为头盔是重要的保护装备。
译自BBC随身英语，原文链接
Cycling cuts cancer risk
Most of us know that the risk of getting ill is reduced when we look after ourselves. Taking regular exercise has proven to be good for our health and scientists have found that the risk of getting cancer and heart disease is reduced when we take part in physical activity – and now they've found cycling to work is one of the best activities to do this. Well, good news for me then!
The biggest study into the issue, linked using two wheels with a halving of the risk of cancer and heart disease. The five-year study of 250,000 UK commuters also showed walking had some benefits over sitting on public transport or taking the car.
Pedalling to work is already popular in many cities across the world. Some forward-thinking authorities have built cycle lanes to make the commute safer, as well as providing secure places to lock them up. Some companies also provide facilities for their employees to get changed and cleaned up when they arrive at work. It all makes good sense - according to people surveyed in this study, regular cycling cut the risk of death from any cause by 41%, the incidence of cancer by 45% and heart disease by 46%.
For me, cycling to work is quicker and cheaper than using public transport and it's my only form of exercise. And whereas going to the gym to lose a few pounds takes effort and commitment, cycling has just become part of the work routine. Clare Hyde from Cancer Research UK says "This study helps to highlight the potential benefits of building activity into your everyday life. Anything that gets you a bit hot and out of breath … can help make a difference."
But what exactly is it that is making cycling a much healthier option? The research, published in the British Medical Journal, found it wasn't the result of weight loss but it could be that cyclists are leaner and have lower levels of inflammation in the body.
Of course, any exercise is good for you but it's thought that cycling is better than walking because the activity is longer and more intense. Dr Jason Gill, from the University of Glasgow, told the BBC "You need to get to work every day so if you built cycling into the day it essentially takes willpower out of the equation." For me, it's the best and most enjoyable workout I can have – and I don't need to wear skin-tight lycra clothes, as long as I wear the most important accessory, a helmet.
