In general, keeping fit and active is a great way to boost your physical and mental health. So, let’s take a look at the science behind these benefits.
It is a proven fact that participating in sports regularly promotes better mental and physical health. Whether it’s your weekly football match, a run in the park every Saturday, or always trying out new sports, the benefits are incredible for your overall health!
There’s a science behind why introducing sport into your life makes you feel good. From dopamine and serotonin hits to endorphins coursing through your body, taking part in sporty exercise is a natural painkiller, mood lifter, and more.
From an improved mood and a confidence boost to heart health and hopes for a longer life, the benefits of sport and exercise cannot be understated. So, let’s take a look at the top five physical and mental benefits of sport.
1. Improved mood, self-esteem and confidence – participating in sports can work miracles
Various studies have shown that playing sports vastly improves your mood. Have you ever felt tired and fed up after a long day and thought about putting off that gym session, a football match, or your weekly yoga class?
Well, then you’ll relate to convincing yourself to go and feeling so much better afterwards! You feel energised and awake, and therefore, your mood improves greatly. This is just one of many ways sports can improve your life.
When you exercise frequently, it is proven that you become more confident, and your self-esteem improves.
2. Great for child development – especially when they start young
It’s no great surprise that exercise is excellent for child development, but there are also so many tangible and mental benefits of kids participating in sports from a young age.
Sports help children grow stronger and healthier both physically and mentally. By joining sports teams, young children’s confidence grows through participating with other children in activities.
They experience what it’s like to be part of a team and make unforgettable memories and friendships for life, all while catering to a healthy body and mind.
3. A better night’s sleep – sleep easy with physical activity
While exercising gives you lots of energy, it’s also a great way to ensure you have a good night’s sleep.
Studies have shown that moderate to vigorous exercise increases sleep quality in adults as it reduces sleep onset. This is the time it takes to actually fall asleep at night.
As a result, you spend less time lying awake trying to sleep and more time catching those all-important ‘Z’s.
So, don’t worry about exercising a few hours before you would usually go to sleep, because science says it’ll actually improve your ability to fall asleep as well as the quality!
4. Increase your chances of living longer – science shows the link
Backed by science, it has been proven that participating in regular sport and exercise increases your chances of living a longer and healthier life.
According to the CDC, an estimated 110,000 adult deaths in the United States of people aged 40 and above could be prevented if they had increased their moderate-to-vigorous physical activity by even a small amount.
They continued by saying that a huge difference could be made by even increasing the number of steps you take a day. Thus, participating in regular sports could truly increase your life expectancy.
5. Overall health – excellent for your physical and mental health
Being physically active can improve your body’s physical fitness as well as your brain health. It has been proven that physical activity also helps manage weight, reduces the risk of disease, strengthens bones and muscles, and improves your overall ability to carry out daily tasks and activities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released information that shows adults who sit less and do more moderate to vigorous activity gain health benefits.
This shows a key insight into the science and understanding of the physical and mental benefits of sport.
So, there you have a small insight into the science of sport. The physical and mental benefits of regular physical activity can have massive implications for your body, both on the inside and the outside.
