Sports and fitness are a crucial part of human life. They boost the body’s health and provide adequate energy.
They also improve concentration, focus and discipline. They enhance social participation and sportsmanship.
Improved Heart Health
If you have a heart-healthy lifestyle, it can help improve your health and reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. This is why it is important to maintain a healthy diet, get regular exercise and avoid smoking.
 idman are a great way to improve your heart health because they stimulate your heart’s pumping muscles and keep your blood flowing smoothly. Additionally, aerobic exercises have been shown to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Cardiovascular workouts also boost your mood, flood your body with feel-good endorphins and improve sleep. In fact, a recent study found that exercise can have a positive effect on depression, too.
Reduced Risk of Stroke and Heart Attack
A large number of studies have found that people who engage in sports and fitness tend to have lower risk of having strokes. They include both cohort and case-control studies.
For example, in a study from the United States, researchers found that people who exercised at least four times a week had a significantly reduced risk of having a stroke. They also found that people who walked at least 35 minutes a day had less severe strokes.
Similarly, a study from Norway found that people who were active in their leisure time had a reduced risk of having a stroke. They found that people who were physically active for moderate amounts of time had a 15% risk reduction.
Increased Self-Esteem
The positive feelings of accomplishment that come from hitting personal bests or mastering an activity can be a major boost in self-esteem. This is especially true for exercise, whether it’s running, yoga, or strength training.
Moreover, many forms of exercise are competitive, and competitiveness has been linked to higher self-esteem. Participating in sports has also been shown to have positive associations with social skills and relationships.
In fact, previous research has shown that college students who were involved in sports prior to attending college had better levels of self-esteem and happiness than non-sport participants (Collins 2012).
Decreased Risk of Cancer
Many people may be surprised to learn that exercise can actually decrease your risk of developing cancer. Hundreds of studies have found that individuals who engage in regular physical activity, including sports, have lower cancer risks than those who do not participate.
In fact, the American College of Sports Medicine reports that engaging in at least five hours of moderate aerobic exercise each week is associated with a lower risk of 13 different types of cancer.
The study, published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise, reviewed data from over 1.4 million people. It took 11 years to gather the data, but it shows that a high level of physical activity can prevent 13 kinds of cancer. Most of the associations were consistent regardless of body size or smoking history.
Improved Mental Health
The health benefits of sports and fitness are many, but one of the most overlooked is improved mental health. Countless studies have shown that physical exercise can help to lower levels of stress, anxiety and depression.
As a result, there has been an increasing interest in the part that sport and physical activity can play in treatment of mental health problems and in mental health promotion. Physiological changes resulting from exercise have been well documented, and research also suggests that socio-cultural and psychological changes arising from engagement in sport and physical activity carry valuable mental health benefits.
Getting involved in sports and physical activity can provide an opportunity for social interaction and a sense of belongingness, both of which have been associated with reduced rates of suicide and other suicidal behavior among adolescents. It can also lead to a feeling of self-esteem, confidence and empowerment.
