Health – Benefits Of Football

Health studies and officials suggest that regular physical activity and exercise promote health as they reduce the risk of chronic heart disease and improve overall body conditioning and wellness. It is suggested that people should exercise at least three or four times a week to reap the benefits of exercise to maximum effect. Playing football three or four times a week (as part of training and matches) caters for this exercise requirement in addition to offering other health benefits.

Playing football to lose weight

Exercise plays a key role in losing weight. A well balanced diet is beneficial for weight loss, but without exercise you will never lose weight as efficiently. Playing football can act as the exercise outlet to help keep your body fit, healthy and keep that weight off permanently.

According to MedlinePlus, exercise increases a person’s metabolic rate by ten percent for up to 48 hours after exercise. Thus, not only will a person be burning fat during a football match or training session, but they will continue to burn fat some 48 hours following a match or training session.

Additionally, as a person exercises, they are using their muscles which in turn are burning fat as a result of fat-burning enzymes contained by muscles which become active during exercise. Research has shown that muscles of people who exercise regularly contain more fat-burning enzymes than those of people who don’t exercise.

Building muscle strength

Exercise requires us to use our muscles, which in turn maintains and even increases our muscle mass. Footballers increase their leg muscles in particular. An increase in muscle mass helps decrease injury susceptibility and increases our ability to burn fat.

Football as an anti-depressant

Playing football can be beneficial to a player’s self esteem and mood. Young players who play football feel better about themselves as exercises has been shown to lower stress.

Reduce the risk of osteoporosis

Playing football when you are young reduces the risk of osteoporosis. Studies have shown that people who participate in weight-bearing exercise such as playing football helps build up and maintain strong, healthy bones and helps prevent osteoporosis later in life.

Reduce the risk of heart disease

Playing football regularly can help reduce the risk of chronic heart disease. Moderate to vigorous activities, like football, when done on a regular basis can help reduce risk of chronic heart disease and heart attacks.

General body conditioning

Young players who play football benefit from an improved general body conditioning and an increase in stamina. Regular exercise from playing football helps maintain and increase muscle mass, reduce body fat ( burnt by muscles during exercise ) and maintain stamina.

Regular physical activity and exercise promote a healthy body and a healthy mind. Parents should encourage their children to practice regular exercise from a young age. Football can be an excellent yet safe source of regular exercise for children of all ages.