Many teenagers in high school today try out for sports because they think it will make them popular with their friends. But there are of course many other benefits to be gained from sports in school.
With home computers, video games, and TVs becoming more and more popular, it has become so much easier for teens to be by themselves rather than going out with friends. Teens used to go hanging out at the mall or drive around town, but now they just sit at home. While they may not find a new best friend when going out, they will learn how to interact with fellows, which they will find useful later in life. Therefore, getting teens into a sport gives them an opportunity to go out and socialize.
One of the biggest problems in our society today is obesity (肥胖), and it is not just a problem with adults. More and more teens are becoming overweight due to poor eating habits and a lack of exercise. Joining in a sport will help them go out and take some exercise without feeling pressured to lose weight or get in shape.
Sports also provides parents with a great way to bond with their children by showing up to support them at games and helping them with their practices. These days, it is becoming harder for parents to show love and support to teens. Through sports, they can not only spend time with their kids and talk to them, but also have a chance to chat with their friends and learn about who they are hanging out with.
Parents may think “but my kid isn’t good enough to make their school team”. Actually, there are plenty of other places besides schools to play sports. Just take a look around the area and it is certainly not hard to find many sporting activities suitable for teens to join in.
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Take Care of Your Spine (脊柱)
The spine stands at the center of your health, providing your body with structure and support. It also contains your spinal cord, a massive collection of nerves that sends electric signals from the rest of your body to your brain. Therefore, it’s important to take care of it.
Maintaining your good posture is one of the most important things you can do to keep your spine healthy. Proper posture means standing or sitting while keeping your spine straight, except for its natural curves. Posture comes into play even when you’re asleep. Sleeping on your side puts less stress on your spine than most other positions. Having a comfortable bed is also very important as sleeping in a position that isn’t comfortable can leave your back feeling sore the next day.
Exercise is also an important factor in the health of your spine. Staying still for too long—even if your posture is good—can be hard on your back. Especially if you work at a desk most of the day, it’s important to get up and stretch periodically. Stretches can help the muscles around your spine relax and allow bones to shift into better positions. Strength exercises with light weights or bodyweight exercises like pushups can also help by strengthening the muscles around your spine. However, don’t overdo the exercise, as repeated motions can hurt the muscles around your spine.
Your diet also affects the health of your spine because many vitamins are necessary for bones and nerves. In particular, B vitamins help keep nerves healthy, so you may want to consider taking a supplement (补充物). Another important factor is vitamin D, which is essential for strong bones, but it’s also absorbed from sunlight, so it may help to do some of those back exercises outside.
