How playing sports benefits your body ... and your brain - Leah Lagos and Jaspal Ricky Singh

Translator: Tracey Carro Noya Reviewer: Mario Cal

The victory of the underdog over the favored team.

A vitoria do equipo máis feble sobre o equipo favorito.

The last minute penalty shot that wins the tournament.

O penalti no derradeiro minuto que gaña o torneo.

The high-energy training montages.

As montaxes de adestramentos intensos.

Many people love to glorify victory on the playing field,

A moita xente gústalle glorificar a vitoria na cancha,

cheer for favorite teams,

animar aos seus equipos favoritos,

and play sports.

e facer deporte.

But here's a question: Should we be so obsessed with sports?

Mais velaquí unha pregunta:

Deberiamos estar tan obsesionados co deporte?

Is playing sports actually as good for us as we make it out to be,

Facer deporte, é realmente tan bo para nós como cremos?

or just a fun and entertaining pastime?

Ou é só un pasatempo entretido e divertido?

What does science have to say?

Que di a ciencia?

First of all, it's well accepted that exercise is good for our bodies and minds,

Primeiro, acéptase que o exercicio é bo para os nosos corpos e as nosas mentes,

and that's definitely true.

e iso é definitivamente certo.

Exercising, especially when we're young, has all sorts of health benefits,

Facer exercicio, e máis cando somos novos, ten todo tipo de beneficios para a saúde,

like strengthening our bones,

como fortalecer os nosos ósos,

clearing out bad cholesterol from our arteries,

limpar o colesterol malo das nosas arterias,

and decreasing the risk of stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

e diminuír o risco de ictus, tensión arterial alta e diabetes.

Our brains also release a number of chemicals when we workout,

Os nosos cerebros tamén liberan substancias químicas cando nos adestramos,

including endorphins.

incluíndo as endorfinas.

These natural hormones,

Estas hormonas naturais,

which control pain and pleasure responses in the cental nervous system,

que controlan as respostas de dor e pracer no sistema nervioso central,

can lead to feelings of euphoria, or, what's often called, a runner's high.

poden levarnos a sentir euforia, ou o tamén chamado subidón do corredor.

Increased endorphins and consistent physical activity in general

Maior cantidade de endorfinas e actividade física regular en xeral

can sharpen your focus and improve your mood and memory.

poden potenciar a túa concentración e mellorar o teu humor e a túa memoria.

Daquela, obtemos o mesmo beneficio indo ao ximnasio cinco días á semana

So does that mean we get just as much benefit going to the gym five days a week

as we would joining a team and competing?

que se nos unísemos a un equipo e competísemos?

Well, here's where it gets interesting:

Ben, aquí é onde se pon interesante,

because it turns out that if you can find a sport and a team you like,

porque resulta que se atopas un deporte e un equipo que che gustan,

os estudos amosan que iso ten todo tipo de beneficios

studies show that there are all sorts of benefits

that go beyond the physical and mental benefits of exercise alone.

alén dos beneficios físicos e mentais de simplemente facer deporte.

Some of the most significant are psychological benefits,

Algúns dos máis significativos son beneficios psicolóxicos

both in the short and long term.

tanto a curto como a longo prazo.

Some of those come from the communal experience of being on a team,

Algúns deles veñen da experiencia comunal de formar parte dun equipo,

for instance, learning to trust and depend on others,

por exemplo, aprender a confiar e a depender doutros,

to accept help,

aceptar axuda,

to give help,

dar axuda,

and to work together towards a common goal.

e traballar xuntos cara a un obxectivo común.

In addition, commitment to a team and doing something fun

Ademais, comprometerse cun equipo e facer algo divertido

can also make it easier to establish a regular habit of exercise.

pode facer máis doado coller o costume de adestrarse regularmente.

School sport participation has also been shown

Tamén se amosou que participar en deportes na escola

to reduce the risk of suffering from depression for up to four years.

diminúe ata catro anos o risco de sufrir depresión.

Meanwhile, your self-esteem and confidence can get a big boost.

Ao tempo, a túa autoestima e a túa confianza aumentan.

There are a few reasons for that.

Hai varios motivos para iso.

One is found in training.

Un deles está no adestramento.

Just by working and working at skills,

Simplemente con adestrar e exercitar as habilidades,

especially with a good coach,

especialmente cunha boa adestradora,

you reinforce a growth mindset within yourself.

reforzas en ti unha mentalidade de crecemento.

That's when you say, "Even if I can't do something today,

Isto é cando dis: “Malia non ser quen de facer algo hoxe,

I can improve myself through practice and achieve it eventually."

podo mellorar coa práctica e serei quen a facelo co tempo”.

That mindset is useful in all walks of life.

Esa mentalidade é útil en tódolos aspectos da vida.

E ademais está a aprendizaxe a través do fracaso,

And then there's learning through failure,

one of the most transformative, long-term benefits of playing sports.

un dos beneficios máis transformativos e a longo prazo de facer deporte.

The experience of coming to terms with defeat can build the resilience

A experiencia de aceptar as derrotas pode aumentar a resiliencia

and self-awareness necessary to manage academic,

e o autocoñecemento precisos para afrontar

obstáculos académicos,

social,

sociais e físicos.

and physical hurdles.

So even if your team isn't winning all the time, or at all,

Mesmo se o teu equipo non gaña sempre, ou non gaña nunca,

there's a real benefit to your experience.

hai un beneficio real para a túa experiencia.

Agora, non a todo o mundo lle van gustar tódolos deportes.

Now, not everyone will enjoy every sport.

Perhaps one team is too competitive,

Quizais un equipo é demasiado competitivo

or not competitive enough.

ou non é competitivo abondo.

It can also take time to find a sport that plays to your strengths.

Tamén pode levar tempo achar un deporte para o que teñas aptitudes.

That's completely okay.

Iso é completamente normal.

But if you spend some time looking,

Mais se botas un tempo a buscar

you'll be able to find a sport that fits your individual needs,

poderás atopar un deporte que se axuste ás túas necesidades individuais

and if you do, there are so many benefits.

e, de ser así, terá moitos beneficios.

Formarás parte dunha comunidade que te apoia,

You'll be a part of a supportive community,

you'll be building your confidence,

aumentarás a túa confianza,

you'll be exercising your body,

adestrarás o teu corpo

and you'll be nurturing your mind,

e nutrirás a túa mente,

not to mention having fun.

amais de que o pasarás ben.