Читать книгу A Smart Girl's Guide: Sports & Fitness - Therese Kauchak Maring - Страница 13

It helps

your

heart.

Exercise that gets your heart pumping

and makes you breathe hard is giving

your heart a workout, too. Your heart

is a muscle. And the stronger it is, the

better it is at pumping blood to your

lungs and the rest of your body. More

oxygen and nutrients get to your

tissues. You’re heart-healthier, and

you have more energy.

It helps your ZZZs.

This one’s simple. Experts who study

fitness say exercise can help you

sleep better, and a well-rested you

is a happier, healthier you.

It helps your future.

You haven’t met Grown-Up You yet. But if you keep playing sports,

you’re going to like her when you do. Not only will Grown-Up You be

fun to hang around with, she’ll also be healthy and fit. Playing sports

now means you’re more likely to be active as an adult.

How much

exercise do

I need?

Health experts say girls your

age should get at least an hour

of physical activity every day.

If you play sports, practicing

and competing will get you to

an hour on many days. Gym

class counts, too. So does

recess and walking the dog.

As part of that activity, you

should do something that gets

your heart pumping for at

least 30 minutes three times

a week. Those 30 minutes can

be two 15-minute or three

10-minute bursts of activity.

You’ll get the same health

benefits as an all-at-once

30-minute workout.

What kind of exercise is best?

Anything that’s so fun it makes

you want to play! In fact,

experts who study fitness rec-

ommend that you don’t pick

just one sport to specialize in.

Playing multiple sports is best

for your body.