For those who have grown up playing sports, know how important it is in shaping an individual and a healthy life. However, for those who have had a more sedated lifestyle, could help from taking a leaf from sports enthusiasts and maybe take up a sport or two and make their lives healthier and happier.

However, taking an interest in sports does not mean tuning into ESPN and watching the latest Manchester United VS Liverpool match live. You need to invest in your sports endeavor a little more by actually getting involved hands on into the game. Sports teaches you a number of things about life, and today we are going to discuss just a few ways in which it plays an important role in shaping your mind, your body and your life in general.

It is important though, that you pick s port that suits your lifestyle and not something you will adopt on a whim and forget about even sooner. Preferably, team sports are the key towards building your overall personality. Sports like basketball, soccer, tennis, badminton, table tennis and many more can indeed help in shaping a new you.

Sports do not only help in building your mind and body, but they teach you a number of things with regards to leadership, friendship and people in general. You will indeed become a little bit wiser everyday when you make at least one sport a part of your life.

So, let’s take a look at how sports can add a new dimension to your life and health.

Friends for Life
Playing sports bring people together. Playing for teams and having each other’s backs ensures that you make friendships on the field that extend even off the field. Friendships that are formed in school playing sports often last for your years.

Confidence
Sports plays a very important role in building confidence in an individual. When one plays sports competitively and has fans and supporters on the sidelines cheering them on, it is indeed a feeling of great joy. A goal, a basket and a home run can not only bring much joy to you and your team but also to your loyal fans – your friends and family who are supporting you from the sidelines.

Leadership
Playing sports teaches you how to respect leadership. This lesson is taught well by two people in the team – your coach and your captain. They provide inspiration, motivation and teach you how to play a fair game. A good coach can indeed change your life, and if you are looking to take on sports at a later age in life, make sure that you have a coach that can provide you lessons that don’t only make sense on the field, but also apply off the field as well.

Health Plus
Active participation in sporting activities boosts your health tremendously. It not only keeps your body agile, but it keeps your mind active too. A boost of physical training at least three or four times a week will keep your body in shape, will keep your system working and will work wonders on your mind.

Eat to Beat
When you start enjoying sports, you will notice that you pay special attention to what you eat as well. You will start finding out what foods will help you build stamina and not affect your body adversely. There are a few things you should remember when you start engaging in sporting activities. For example, when you start playing sports, at the very start, you will be hungrier than usual. This is normal, because when you are physically active, your body tends to expend more energy than usual.

A few tips that can help you build a ‘fit for sports’ body are discussed below:

Eat Fat – Well, you may be petrified even at the thought of consuming more fat than usual, but this is the best excuse. 20 – 25% of one’s energy comes from fats, and to ensure that you have high levels on energy when you are on the field, you need your daily dose of healthy fats.

Drink lots of water – It is important that your body stays hydrated as while playing your body loses a lot of liquid, which can lead to dehydration. This could be fatal, so do ensure that you drink as much water as you can, before, during and after engaging in arduous sporting activities.

Balanced Diet – Ensuring that you consume a balanced diet is important. Ideally, an athletes diet should consist of proteins, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and fats.

Don’t fast, your body needs food to stay fit.

Before you do go ahead and start eating for a ‘sports fit body’ be sure to consult a holistic nutritionist, who will advice you upon what food can help you increase your stamina and keep pace with your team mates and enjoy every moment on and off the field.