The study by the renowned Harvard Medical School examined which sports are the healthiest. Regardless of fitness level, gender, previous knowledge or age. And these are the 5 healthiest sports of all:
5th place: Kegel exercises
Very few people have probably heard of Kegel exercises. Apparently wrongly, because they are among the healthiest exercises. Because “they strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which support the bladder.” And: “Strong pelvic floor muscles can significantly help prevent incontinence,” says Dr. I-Min Lee, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. It is a common misconception that pelvic floor training is only for women. The exercises are also advisable for men.
4th place: Walking
As simple as it sounds, putting it into practice is important: you should walk as much as possible. “Walking is a simple but powerful exercise. It can help you stay slim, improve your cholesterol levels, strengthen your bones, control your blood pressure, improve your mood, and reduce your risk of a number of diseases (e.g . Diabetes and heart disease),” said Min Lee. “A number of studies have shown that walking and other physical activities can even improve memory and resist age-related memory loss.” So, next time you go to the supermarket, just leave the car parked.
3rd place: strength training
“If you don’t use your muscles, they lose strength over time,” explains the professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. And: “The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn, making it easier to maintain your weight.” Effective loading of the different muscle groups is equally important for women and men.
2nd place: Thai Chi
Through flowing, organic movements, Tai Chi gently trains all muscles and calms the mind. The exercises are ideal for switching off and managing stress. And a calm mind is also extremely important for health: “Because balance is an important part of physical fitness, and balance is something that we lose as we get older,” says Min Lee.
1st place: swimming
Lose weight, build muscles, get your cardiovascular system going: swimming is a true all-rounder. It is not without reason that the sport in cool water is number 1 in the Harvard rankings. “Swimming is beneficial for people with arthritis because they have to carry less weight,” says Min Lee. Regular swimming promises to increase strength, metabolism and stamina while training your breathing.
