{"id":191944,"date":"2023-02-03T15:26:34","date_gmt":"2023-02-03T15:26:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=191944"},"modified":"2023-02-03T15:26:34","modified_gmt":"2023-02-03T15:26:34","slug":"vitamin-d-can-it-make-you-a-better-cyclist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2023\/02\/03\/vitamin-d-can-it-make-you-a-better-cyclist\/","title":{"rendered":"Vitamin D: Can It Make You a Better Cyclist?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did you know that Chris Boardman, a former British racing cyclist, quit riding following a diagnosis of early-stage osteoporosis? An unfortunate end to a great cycling career but the question is: could this have been prevented?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In Chris\u2019 case, it\u2019s unlikely, as he had a family history of the disease. But in many cases, osteoporosis \u2013 a health condition that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break \u2013 is largely preventable. Since cycling isn\u2019t a weight-bearing exercise, then you\u2019re unlikely to be able to prevent the disease through cycling alone. However, one way to prevent osteoporosis is to make sure you\u2019re getting enough vitamin D.<\/p>\n

So, first and foremost, if vitamin D prevents you from giving up cycling, then that in itself will make you a better cyclist. But what other benefits does regular consumption of this essential vitamin have for our two-wheeled endeavours?<\/p>\n

1) It reduces inflammation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Studies show<\/a> that inflammation is increased when an athlete has lower levels of vitamin D. It is thought that inflammation is one of the causes of burnout in athletes or \u2018overtraining syndrome\u2019. But, if an athlete maintains a normal level of vitamin D through both diet and supplementation, inflammation is reduced, and you can get back to training more quickly.<\/p>\n

2) Be a better sprinter<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve ever done intervals, you might have heard the words \u2018fast-twitch muscle fibres\u2019. Well, these type-II muscles are said to be<\/a> particularly sensitive to the effects of vitamin D deficiency. These muscle fibres are important in activities that require short, sharp bursts. Basically, if you want that epic sprint finish or you\u2019re beasting up a big climb, you\u2019ll want to make sure you\u2019re getting enough vitamin D.<\/p>\n

3) Avoid muscle atrophy<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A vitamin-D-deficient person is more likely to suffer muscle atrophy, which will reduce the effectiveness of their muscles on the bike. Muscles that have atrophied will contract and relax much more slowly, which is essentially another way of saying that they won\u2019t perform all that well. On top of this, an atrophied muscle is at an increased risk of chronic pain. Cycling likely won\u2019t be on your high-priority list with this set of symptoms!<\/p>\n

\"Cyclist<\/a>
Many people can meet their daily vitamin D requirements through sunshine alone. \u00a9 Profimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4) Reduce your risk of injury<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Various studies have been carried out to show the relationship between sufficient levels of vitamin D and injury prevention and recovery. One such study<\/a> followed a number of football players, discovering that those with musculoskeletal injuries had significantly lower levels of vitamin D than their uninjured peers.<\/p>\n

5) Improved recovery<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In the event you do get injured, be that a strained muscle or a broken bone from falling off your bike, then those with sufficient vitamin D levels will likely recover quicker than those who are deficient.<\/p>\n

6) Increased oxygen levels<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Lung-busting climbs<\/a> would be made that little bit easier with just a bit more oxygen, wouldn\u2019t they? Well, vitamin D can help you out! Studies have shown that when a person has sufficient vitamin D levels, they have a higher oxygen consumption rate, which, in turn, helps them to breathe better.<\/p>\n

These are just a few of the many benefits of sufficient vitamin D levels as a cyclist \u2013 and a human being in general! First, you\u2019ll want to figure out whether you\u2019re deficient in the first place, so you can answer these questions. Or to be really sure, you could get a blood test done. But the likelihood is that even for cyclists that do go outside, if you live beyond 35 degrees of the equator in the south or the north over winter, then you\u2019ll need a top-up.<\/p>\n

You can get your vitamin D in various ways.<\/a> This could be through food and sensible sun exposure but it\u2019s likely you\u2019ll need supplementation too. A combination approach could certainly be a helpful addition to your training regime over the winter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Did you know that Chris Boardman, a former British racing cyclist, quit riding following a diagnosis of early-stage osteoporosis? An […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":191945,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[332],"tags":[5478,5477,6931,6930],"global-categories":[3366],"class_list":["post-191944","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-and-training","tag-should-you-take-vitamin-d","tag-vitamin-d","tag-vitamin-d-and-osteoporosis","tag-vitamin-d-for-cyclists","global-categories-cycling"],"yoast_head":"\nVitamin D: Can It Make You a Better Cyclist? - \u0160koda We Love Cycling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Did you know that Chris Boardman, a former British racing cyclist, quit riding following a diagnosis of early-stage osteoporosis? 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