How many of you are fed up of being berated for the time you spend gaming? The majority of us experience at least some level of nagging for spending our days in dark rooms. ‘It’s bad for your health,’ is a common statement in a gamer’s life. And, for the most part, we have to laugh it off. We all know that gaming isn’t exactly akin to playing football.
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But, with a bit of research, you’ll find that gaming isn’t as bad for your health as others would have you believe. In fact, when it comes to cognitive functioning, game playing can serve you well. Gamers often score high on memory tests, for example.
The chances are that you knew that already. So instead, we’re going to focus on the less-known health benefits of gaming. You can pull these out of the bag next time your partner tells you that games will be the death of you.
Promotes good posture
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This may be the opposite of what you’ve always been told, but think about it; gaming does have the ability to improve posture. That’s not always the case, of course. Slouching for hours on the sofa will never be good for you. But, taking a look at something like these best PC gaming chair reviews of 2017 will ensure you find something which helps you sit straight. Proper gaming chairs promote straight backs and proper support. Thus, your gaming is teaching you to sit right!
Helps break addictions
Believe it or not, gaming helps us break bad addictions. Whether you smoke or eat more than you should, gaming can help you change it. You may be thinking that it’s no surprise. After all, who has time to stop for a smoke when immersed in gameplay?
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But, there’s actually more to it than that. A study conducted by Brown University, the American Cancer Society and Stony Brook University found that you could actually reduce cravings through gameplay. By placing participants in an MRI, they discovered that gaming activated the same reward centers as addiction. This was especially the case when games offered frequent rewards. Forget e-cigs; get your game on.
Reduces stress
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Stress can impact our physical health in any number of ways. Over an extended period, it can be a contributing factor in heart disease, strokes, and many other serious illnesses. So, it’s not all that great for us. Luckily, gaming drastically reduces the stress you experience. Of course, you don’t need us to tell you that. Nothing beats putting your feet up with a game after a long day. The immersive experience is the best way to forget about that rude customer at work.
Promotes exercise…sometimes
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Let’s be honest; as much as we would like it to, gaming doesn’t always keep us fit. But, there are options, such as the WII Fit, which could get us up and about. Plus, virtual reality is sure to work wonders for our fitness levels. So, sometimes, gaming really does help you exercise!