Basically, practicing sports periodically even if this is by means of going up the stairs instead of using the elevator or leaving the car for the bike, this means more than fighting diseases. Sports also improve memory and learning.

Base on the recent research, found more neurons in the hypothalamus nucleus (involved in memory) of the sports-practicing individuals than of the sedentary ones. Just walking 45 minutes daily thrice a week improves mental capacities, like planning and coordination. It is also known that active persons live more and have a healthier life than the sedentary ones do. But exercising is also a source of pleasure; it increases the level of certain hormones, like endorphins, which acts like natural analgesics. The practice of a sport also increases self-esteem, decreases anxiety and increases the capacity of facing stress.

In addition, researches also showed that sports prevent impotence in men, even when started after 50 years, as it improves circulation (erection is an issue of blood circulation) and makes the endocrine system release dopamine and serotonin. Moreover, men practicing sports overcome the average time of intercourse duration. This will also increase the release of testosterone, the male sexual hormone, from the testicles. This hormone boosts the number of immune white cells and red cells in the blood, preventing infections.

Bones also benefit from this; in childhood, their growth is boosted, and during adulthood, practicing sports impedes the loss of bony mass. It also keeps the structure and function of the articulations. They get more lubricated, flexible and less prone to degenerating arthropathies (rheumatism), even in old age. A sport also decreases by 20-40 % the risk of colon cancer. Tumors are favored by two hormones: insulin and estrogen. Exercising decreases the levels of these hormones. In the case of colon cancer, the positive effect is also due to the increase in intestinal mobility and these way toxins remain less in contact with the colon.

It’s clear that sports improve heart’s health. Sportsmen are less exposed to cardiovascular diseases. Sports increase the good cholesterol, decrease hypertension, control type II diabetes. The heart of a sport practicing person makes less effort in accomplishing the same amount of work. Not to mention the increased lung capacity of that individual. Still, the key is constant physical exercise. Even athletes interrupting training do not keep measurable health effects in the long run. After 12 weeks of break, elite athletes can lose 50 % of their aerobic training capacity.

Sports that can be practiced for the entire life are swimming, biking, tennis, gulf, race, march and mountaineering, while others, like football, soccer, rugby, karate, judo, or hockey just by some and at determined ages.

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