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“I felt like I was floating”
Running is a scientifically proven sport to mimic the feeling of nicotine the most because of the hormones called Endocannabinoids or endorphins, which release under stress and create feelings of peace or lowering anxiety. However this is not the only biological effect running has on the body, running increases cardiovascular efficiency, reduces blood pressure, strengthens the diaphragm and the rib muscles, improving oxygen efficiency. These are just a few benefits of sports, so what else could the human body do with sports?
PHYSICAL BENEFITS ON THE BODY
Scientifically, sports are a form of aerobic conditioning, aerobic conditioning is a process of training the body in order to improve cardiovascular efficiency. This allows the heart,lungs and muscles to use oxygen better during activity. When we engage in physical activity, our heart and specifically the left ventricle undergoes healthy growth. The heart muscle stretches to accommodate more blood flow. This increases its ability to contract. This also increases the amount of blood pumped per beat, The more efficient your heart is the lower your resting heart rate will be. Why? Because the heart can deliver blood to the tissues with fewer beats.
Exercise activates a protein called PGC-1a. This makes the cells create more mitochondria, and more mitochondria means your body becomes more efficient at converting nutrients into ATP, adenosine phosphate. This improves insulin sensitivity. This means that the body can now regulate blood sugar levels more efficiently.
Exercise increases the release of the BDNF gene, which is a gene that provides instructions for creating a protein that acts as a growth factor for the body. This encourages the growth of new neurons. This makes us have better memory, emotional regulation and cognitive function, cognitive function is the mental processes that allow individuals to have more knowledge, process information, and reason.
ADDITIONAL WAYS IN WHICH PARTICIPATION IN SPORT CAN BENEFIT PEOPLE
In most areas of life, failure is seen as permanent or an inability to do something, and is often viewed negatively or as unworthiness. Often in places such as careers, academics or relationships. Sports provides a controlled environment for sports. Many people learn that in sports, a failure in something is not the end. It teaches people to be comfortable with the fact that sometimes being “bad” is not failure and that you can get better at something you are “bad” at. This takes away the fear of failure later in life.
Collective effervescence,the feeling of belonging and energy when a group focuses on the same action. When someone plays in a group, your heart rate and breathing patterns often synchronize with the people around you. This physical oreness acts as a barrier to the current epidemic of loneliness or hyper individualism. This not only increases socialism but also increases a sense of safety and belonging.
Sports are one of the few remaining spaces where people from different socioeconomic, political, and religious backgrounds must work toward a single goal. You don't have to like your teammates' political opinion or religious belief to respect them and work with them in a team. This humanises someone you disagree with, making it easier to work with them and connect with a bigger group of people.
To conclude, sports provides us with a safe controlled space to practice the difficult parts of life, such as failure. Sports have been a part of many peoples life through every generation and is a source of connection and bonding for many people!