Playing sports can make you live longer, think clearer, react faster, lose weight and prevent diseases with little to no side effects. There's no age limit as to when you can start playing, and there's overwhelming scientific evidence guaranteeing it works. Playing sports is potent medicine that doesn't require a prescription.
Heart Health
According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular diseases were the cause of 34.6 percent of all deaths in the U.S. According to the AHA's latest guidelines, all healthy adults should get at least 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week. You can split this up into two separate 15 minutes exercises or do it all at once. Swimming a few laps in the pool or playing tennis regularly with a friend are among the many ways to be active in sports and keep your heart healthy.
Coordination and Reaction
Coordination is important in our daily lives, from something as simple as pouring milk to walking up and down stairs. Reaction time is also important in avoiding injury. A study conducted by Japanese researchers showed that baseball players had the shortest reaction time of several groups of athletes. Other sports like tennis and soccer can also provide you with repetitive coordination and reaction exercises that never happen the exact same way twice.
Disease Prevention
The physical activity of playing sports can cut your chances of developing a major illness in half and increase your life expectancy. A study at 27 National Institutes of Health showed that eating a healthy diet and playing sports that exercise your body regularly can reduce your chances of getting Type 2 diabetes by 58 percent. Sports that impact your bones, like tennis or racquetball, can build bone density, and doctors recommend postmenopausal women play these sports to help fight off osteoporosis.
Psychological Benefits
Exercising and playing sports increases blood flow to all parts of the body including your brain. A study headed by Daniel M. Landers at Arizona State University showed that regular exercise can reduce depression, anxiety and even improve your quality of sleep. The physical activity also causes the brain to secrete endorphins, which are chemicals that help fight physical pain and emotional stress. Playing team sports that promote working together toward a common goal like basketball or football are excellent ways to naturally raise your self-esteem.
Conditioning
Regardless of what sport you play, you're partaking in a moderately strenuous physical activity. What your body does during that time is burn calories and trim unnecessary fat. Sports in combination with a healthy diet can maintain a healthy weight, or if you're already obese it can help you trim excess fat while building lean muscle. Sports Medicine Doctor Tom Harrison compiled a list of the top 10 healthiest sports to play, ranking squash at number one, followed by cycling and rowing at two and three.
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