4ucycling

Mankind evolved over millions of years to survive by walking or running to chase prey or gather food. It was often difficult to digest and was scarce. And yet in the space of a mere few hundred years we have become the masters of our environment, and food has become plentiful. In the modern world we are surrounded by machines and gadgets that allow us to avoid almost all physical effort. The food we can buy often contains large amounts of sugar and fat. Boredom, which might otherwise have motivated us to become active, is satisfied by television and video games and other sedentary activities. But in the western world over-eating and lack of exercise is having a catastrophic effect on health. Not only do we put on weight, but our cardiovascular systems, evolved for regular use, lose their potency. Like any machinery left unused, the components begin to rust and seize up. The risk is that when they are needed they fail suddenly and catastrophically. We become vulnerable to heart diseas...

Every day I hear from people who try really hard, and just can't seem to lose weight. There are a number of "hidden" reasons this might be happening to you. A woman's weight can be traced to her emotional well-being, with diet binges occurring during courtship and in the lead-up to weddings, according to a British survey. There's a great many reasons why a woman's weight may fluctuate. Some might say it's a hectic work schedule preventing them from getting to the gym. Others may suggest it is the temptation of the office chocolate machine. But the research suggests that there's only one real reason - their men. A study into the ups and downs of the female weight-cycle showed happiness - or the lack of it - in a relationship is the biggest factor. The report found early courtship usually brings with it a strict diet regime resulting in the loss of around 5lb. After women enter Stage 2, which is the comfort zone, when they feel secure enough to...

Most of us have experienced neck tension or pain at one time or another. These are often caused by poor posture or degenerative changes to the cervical spine. The result is stiff muscles in your neck and shoulders, pain and limited mobility. Neck tension and pain can occur for several reasons. Causes of neck tension Poor posture: constant strain on your head and neck due to incorrect positions, movements and permanent stress at work, in your daily life or when exercising Mental stress: psychological strain Weak immune system: for example, due to a cold Accidents and injuries: for example, whiplash or a pulled muscle In my opinion, and that of many experts, the main reason for neck tension and pain is often a lack of mobility of the thoracic spine. The thoracic spine is designed to move in the form of rotations (turning), flexions (bending) and extensions (straightening). However, the opposite is often the case in daily life. We have turned into marathon sitters and couch potato...

Are you feeling tired and a bit under the weather? Are you often sick during the cold months of the year? We all know this problem. But if you keep a few simple things in mind, you can greatly reduce your chance of illness. We have put together the seven best tips for strengthening your immune system to help keep you healthy and fit during the winter. 1. Wash your hands & do it right How many times a day do you shake hands, touch doorknobs or handle money? Every day we come into contact with thousands of germs and bacteria. Wash your hands several times a day with plenty of soap and warm water for 15-20 seconds. 2. Clean your tech devices regularly Your devices are also teeming with germs. You touch your smartphone, tablet or laptop hundreds of times a day. Clean them on a regular basis and don’t be afraid to use disinfectants. 3. Eat a healthy and balanced diet (garlic, cauliflower and broccoli are unknown miracle workers) What’s not to like about broccoli and cauliflowe...

Say Goodbye to Takeaway: Homemade Broccoli and Shrimp Stir-Fry Do you love Chinese food? Then this is the perfect recipe for you. This Asian broccoli and shrimp stir-fry is ready in only 10 minutes. Ingredients (serves 2): 1 Tbsp vegetable oil (canola or coconut oil) 350 g shrimps 350 g broccoli 1 tsp sesame seeds 1 spring onion (chopped) Ingredients for the sauce: 1 Tbsp ginger 1 garlic clove 2 Tbsp soy sauce 1 Tbsp oyster sauce 1 Tbsp rice vinegar 1 tsp cane sugar 1 tsp sesame oil 1 tsp cornstarch Instructions: Grate the ginger and press the garlic clove. Combine both with the rest of the ingredients for the sauce in a bowl. Heat the oil in a pan. Add the shrimps and stir-fry for a couple of minutes. Then add the broccoli. When the vegetables are tender (about 5 minutes), pour the sauce over the top. Mix everything well. Sprinkle the broccoli and shrimp stir-fry with sesame seeds and chopped spring onions. Serve with rice. One serving (without rice) has 330 ca...

Cycling offers many personal and practical benefits. It's good for your health You may be interested to know that: The National Forum For Coronary Heart Disease found that regular cyclists enjoy a level of fitness equal to that of someone ten years younger. According to a British Medical Association report, cycling will improve your fitness, help you maintain a healthy weight, lower your risk of a heart attack and help to reduce stress. A British Heart Foundation study concluded that cycling at least 20 miles per week reduced the risk of heart disease to less than half that for non-cyclists who take no other exercise. As well as improving your health and wellbeing, cycling can be lots of fun, not to mention a cheaper, quicker and less stressful way of getting from A to B. It's low on cost Bicycles require no Vehicle Excise Duty, no MOT, no compulsory insurance, no breakdown recovery services and, above all, no fuel! A good bicycle, if well maintained, will last for many year...