Anyone who does sport is doing something good for their body. But certain sports allow people to live even longer, as Danish researchers have discovered.
For the study, the scientists examined 8,500 healthy, adult people. They focused on the lifespan, lifestyle and sports the participants did.
Over a period of 25 years, during which 4,500 of the participants died, the test subjects had to fill out questionnaires about their sporting activities. The result: Certain sports are true miracle weapons for a long and fulfilling life.
This sport makes people live longer
Team sports stood out as particularly beneficial for longevity. The absolute leader is tennis, which can extend the length of life by an average of 9.7 years.
Badminton players can look forward to around 6.2 extra years. And football is also a real miracle weapon with an extended lifespan of 4.7 years.
Individual sports such as swimming (3.4 years), jogging (3.2 years) and gymnastics (3.1 years) perform significantly worse compared to team sports, but still have a positive influence on length of life.
But why is sweating as a couple or as a team so much more effective?
It depends on contact with other people
Through social interaction in team sports, you not only move, but also maintain social contacts and are emotionally involved. The result: After exercising you feel even more satisfied and relaxed than after training alone.
Sports that are fun make you live longer
However, there is another reason why sports such as tennis or badminton have a positive effect on lifespan. Because these activities awaken the childish play instinct in us, which is a true fountain of youth.