Health Benefits of Pickleball

What's old is new again; pickleball is the latest sport sweeping social media, and this time, it's spreading beyond the Pacific Northwest home of Seattle into a nationwide lifestyle craze. But what is pickleball, why is it so popular, and is it any good for you? Team Nature Made's pickleball experts are here to give you the scoop.

What is Pickleball?

If this is the first you've heard of pickleball, a few images might come to mind. They might involve eating sandwiches with fermented cucumber or playing baseball with an oblong, lumpy ball instead of the traditional stitched sphere. Maybe something even stranger than that if you've got a particularly vivid imagination. But pickleball is pretty easy to understand, especially if you've got a point of reference. Pickleball most closely resembles the game of tennis. Like tennis, pickleball is played on a court divided by a low net and involves a ball that you hit back and forth over the net. But here's where the differences begin; a pickleball court is significantly smaller than a tennis court, and you hit the ball with something more closely resembling an oversized table tennis paddle than the traditional threaded racket. The ball is also different, made of hard plastic rather than the rubber and felt ball you may be familiar with from tennis.

Why is pickleball popular?

All these changes and a different set of rules combine to make pickleball a faster, more casual game that's easy to pick up and hard to master. This is reflected in its growing popularity, with pickleball courts going up across the nation, their reduced size making it easier to fit more courts closer together than tennis, so a larger number of players can compete simultaneously. It's a recipe for success! If you play pickleball or are interested in starting, we've collected some health benefits that pickleball may bring into your life!

Why Play Pickleball?

Get Outside, A Source of Vitamin D

Did you know that 95% of Americans don't receive enough Vitamin D from their diet alone?[2] Beyond that, nearly one-third are Vitamin D deficient![1] Vitamin D is essential for bone, teeth, muscle, and immune health. There are a few ways to get Vitamin D; the primary source is sunshine. Pickleball is a great excuse to get outdoors into the sunshine and let the light in! Fifteen minutes of sunlight without sunscreen provides an adequate source of Vitamin D, but if you're out all day be sure to protect your skin with sunscreen! Other sources of Vitamin D include foods like salmon, sardines, and egg yolks. If you're interested in supplementing your dietary intake of Vitamin D, Nature Made® Vitamin D3 Softgels help raise and maintain healthy Vitamin D levels when taken daily. Vitamin D3 is the body's preferred form of Vitamin D.†

Exercise

In addition to being fun, playing pickleball can really get your limbs moving and your heart pumping. That's good! Regular exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle, and finding a way to have fun while getting your workout makes you much more likely to keep it up! If your closest pickleball court is nearby, you can get even more benefits from your outing by walking there instead of driving. Walking by itself has several health benefits; check out 20 Health Benefits of Walking, Plus Simple Tips On How to Start a Walking Routine !

One way to support your nerve, muscle and heart function (all vital to pickleball performance) is by ensuring your body has enough Magnesium. Magnesium is an essential mineral that can help you get more out of your food by helping to convert food into cellular energy. Despite its essential function in the body, over half of American adults don't consume enough Magnesium in their daily diet![2] If your diet doesn't include Magnesium-rich foods like whole grains, dark green leafy vegetables, and beans, you may be interested in supplemental Magnesium to help cover possible nutrient gaps. Nature Made® High Absorption Magnesium Glycinate Softgels support muscle relaxation and heart, nerve, and bone health with two daily capsules of 100% chelated Magnesium Glycinate, which has better absorption and GI tolerance than Magnesium Oxide.†

Socialization

Pickleball can be a great way to see old friends or even meet new ones! Taking a regular sojourn down to the pickleball courts helps create an active social life with the pickleball community. A sense of community is essential, and having an activity to engage in with friends can help keep you from feeling loneliness, which has been found to promote memory loss.[3] Looking for other ways to give your brain support? Check out this blog on 5 Ways to Support Brain Health† .

Stress

Sometimes, all you need after a stressful day is something fun to do to take your mind off of things. Beyond the immediate benefits, regular exercise can improve your emotional resilience to stress.[4] So, consider it part of your Self-Care Plan next time you head out to play pickleball! If you're looking for additional stress support, check out Nature Made® Wellblends™ Stress Relief Gummies , a scientifically designed 2-in-1 blend of L-theanine and GABA to provide same-day stress support.

The Bottom Line

Pickleball is back, and it looks like it's here to stay! Luckily, it's not only fun but can also provide some great health benefits! If you're looking for more ways to support your daily health, check out our Ultimate Guide to What Vitamins Should I Take Every Day ! Nature Made® is the #1 Pharmacist Recommended Vitamin & Supplement Brand*

* Based on a survey of pharmacists who recommend branded vitamins and supplements

† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

1. Liu X, Baylin A, Levy PD. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among US adults: prevalence, predictors and clinical implications. Br J Nutr. 2018;119(8):928-936.
2. Reider CA, Chung RY, Devarshi PP, Grant RW, Hazels Mitmesser S. Inadequacy of Immune Health Nutrients: Intakes in US Adults, the 2005-2016 NHANES. Nutrients. 2020;12(6):1735. Published 2020 Jun 10. doi:10.3390/nu120617354.
3. Yin J, Lassale C, Steptoe A, Cadar D. Int J Epidemiol. 2019;48(6):1937-1948. doi:10.1093/ije/dyz085
4. Childs E, de Wit H. Regular exercise is associated with emotional resilience to acute stress in healthy adults. Front Physiol . 2014;5:161. Published 2014 May 1. doi:10.3389/fphys.2014.00161