As one of the most popular sports in the world, soccer has become an inseparable habit for some people. Not only as a hobby, there are many health benefits of playing soccer.

Running, jumping, kicking, blocking opponents, and dribbling are movements that can have a positive effect on the body. Then, what are the benefits?

The benefits of playing soccer that need to be known

There are many benefits to the body from playing soccer that you can get. Starting from strengthening muscles and bones, to improving heart function.

In addition, this exercise can also prevent you from mental disorders, you know. Come on, consider the following seven benefits of playing soccer:

1. Strengthens muscles

One of the benefits of playing soccer that you can get is the muscles that get stronger. Yes, during playing soccer, you need muscles to perform various movements, such as kicking, jumping and running.

Not only leg muscles, the upper body is also needed for this one sport. Holding your opponent, protecting the ball, throwing it into the field, can make your arm muscles and upper joints more trained.

2. Healthy heart

Players with certain positions in soccer are required to chase or dribble the ball so that it is not taken by the opponent. This activity can optimize heart performance.

Quoting the American Heart Association , running is one sport that can nourish cardiovascular organs, including the heart.

Just like other cardio sports, soccer can keep your heart rate normal. That way, the potential for various cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes can be minimized.

In addition, active repetitive movements are also effective against plaque buildup in the arteries that can lead to coronary heart disease.

3. Prevent osteoporosis

As we get older, the human body will experience a lot of decline in function, including bone. Bone will lose density, thus losing strength to support the body.

You can prevent this by playing soccer. Playing soccer can help you maintain bone density. According to the Ministry of Health , rarely exercising can reduce new bone formation activity. Thus, osteoporosis will be vulnerable to attack.

4. Boost cognitive abilities

Not only physical, football also brings benefits to brain health. Because, when doing this sport, you are required to concentrate, discipline, and arrange tactics so you can break into the opponent’s goal.

Not to mention, the game is fast paced so you have to make decisions as soon as possible. For example, what to do after receiving a pass, defending your own area when an opponent attacks, and looking for teammates to pass the ball.

All of these things require an immediate decision. This will stimulate the cognitive nerves to work harder. If you play soccer a lot, your brain will get used to thinking fast.

5. Helps lose weight

Soccer is a great sport for burning fat. Massive movements can trigger sweating, optimizing the burning of nutrients that often cause obesity.

Soccer itself requires its players, except the goalkeeper, to keep running after and dribbling the ball.

Not only fat, this exercise is also effective for burning calories. Please note, every day, your body gets calorie intake from food.

If there is no burning, the accumulated calories can lead to obesity. The more sweat you ooze, the more calories you burn.

6. Relieves stress

According to a publication in the United States National Library of Medicine, exercise is closely related to various hormones in the body, such as endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin.

These three hormones play a role in changing the mood to be happy, joyful, and happy. When the levels of all three increase, various anxiety disorders can be minimized, such as stress or depression.

7. Helps stabilize blood pressure

Who would have thought, it turns out that playing soccer can also stabilize blood pressure in the body, you know. This cannot be separated from the optimal performance of the heart in pumping blood.

Smooth blood circulation keeps blood pressure awake and stable. It is very important to have normal blood pressure, in order to avoid various dangerous diseases. In high blood pressure, for example, diseases such as heart disease and stroke will easily attack.

So, those are the seven benefits of playing soccer which is good for health. Doing it regularly can increase endurance and minimize the risk of getting a number of diseases. Have a nice play!