Soccer is not only fun, but it can aid in weight loss along with strengthening the heart and lungs.
An online service known as Push Doctor explained, “The health benefits of soccer include improving heart health and blood pressure, building strength, stamina and speed, and reducing body fat. When we play soccer, we burn calories. Therefore, it can be a good way to improve our body composition. When playing soccer, we utilize energy aerobically, using fat as our main energy substrate, and anaerobically, using carbohydrates stored in the muscle as glycogen as our main energy substrate.”
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen explained that soccer can reduce blood pressure similarly to some blood pressure medications. This is because soccer increases muscle mass and strengthens bones simultaneously.
In soccer, there are bouts of intense activity when you sprint, which has been shown to help sustain healthy blood pressure. Soccer has also been shown to reduce cholesterol, which is another factor that causes cardiovascular events.
Sudden bursts of activity are good to help loosen up stiff arteries along with improving heart health and blood flow, which are all necessary to reduce blood pressure.
It is recommended that adults partake in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity.
Always speak to your doctor before engaging in any activity to determine if it’s safe for you or not. The good thing about using a sport to reduce blood pressure is that not only is it fun, but it’s a great way to stay social, lose weight, reduce stress, and reduce blood pressure.
Even if soccer isn’t for you, you can engage in several other sports and activities that allow for short bursts of intensity such as tennis, basketball, or football.
Also Read : How to lower blood pressure quickly and naturally