Bingo has always been one of the most popular games in the world. The fast action, large jackpots and social nature of the game attracts droves of people to UK bingo parlours everywhere. Now, with the ever-present availability of online bingo action, bingo is enjoying an even greater following than ever, especially free bingo. On the heels of this expanded participation comes a stunning announcement — bingo is good for you.

For years, some people have advocated that the sedentary nature of bingo was a cause of real concern. People who played consistently were likely to gain weight and develop a less-energetic lifestyle, thanks to the hours spent seated while paying bingo. Had that time been spent exercising or doing something more strenuous, bingo players might have improved their health, rather than impairing it.

However, a recent study of UK bingo players has determined that bingo is a beneficial exercise for the mind. It increases mental acuity and sharpness. These results are seen not just in old people, but in a wide cross-section of people who were compared to others in their own age group. Half of the participants were permitted to play bingo. The rest were not. At the end of the study, those who played improved their memory, brain activity and brain function. Those who did not play bingo did not improve during the study. An interesting point worth noting was that older people tended to outperform younger study participants in some of the tests.

Bingo sharpened the decision-making skills of the participants as well. That’s because with each game, the individual must monitor several cards and make decisions constantly. The increased use of the brain developed increased strength.

While the tests are impressive, the study doesn’t suggest that sitting and eating for hours on end is a good thing for one’s health. Indeed, the long hours of inactivity and the tension of the game can be exactly what one doesn’t need. Nothing is as effective at packing on the pounds as a daily regimen of inactivity and casual munching. To truly enjoy the positive effects of playing online bingo, it’s necessary to counter the down time with several weekly cardiovascular workouts of twenty minutes or longer. Avoiding excess snacking while playing bingo. It’s easy to take in an extra thousand calories per day through casual munching. If you have to snack, use a low calorie food, like vegetables or fruits. Nuts and salads are also better than fish and chips for keeping caloric intake down.

In the past, online bingo was assailed for being a solitary endeavour, thwarting one of the positive elements of UK bingo parlours, that being the camaraderie and fun of belonging to a group and participating in the activities of that group. Regular online players meet one another and get to know others who share their interest in free bingo an example of this can be seen at Foxy Bingo . Bonding between online bingo players takes place just as it would in any UK bingo hall. Those with similar interests find one another. Online bingo offers the same opportunities to meet others and get better acquainted through chat rooms, forums and joining bingo clubs.

Of course, this study isn’t suggesting that playing bingo will transform an overweight person into a hard-body. Nor is it claiming that bingo will lower a hyper tense person’s blood pressure. The study does suggest that playing bingo benefits the mental ability of people of all ages when compared to their peers who did not play bingo. So while playing bingo isn’t as good for a body as cross-training, it’s better than sitting around watching the television. At least while playing bingo, the brain is engaged fully–thinking and reacting continuously. In fact, other games, such as solving crossword puzzles, have shown similar benefits as bingo.

While a doctor may not specifically prescribe free skill bingo as a cure-all for physical ailments, the good that comes from regular exercise of any muscle is beneficial, including the brain. The more often it is challenged later in life, the longer and better it will perform. The results of the study indicate that bingo can be used pro actively to keep the brain sharp when heading into middle age or as an aid to clearing the fog of our later years.

Bingo keeps the brain focused, the memory intact and the decision-making process sharp. If you throw in the prizes and jackpots, the social networking and the plain fun and excitement, it’s easy to see why the game is so popular and will likely remain so. As if the legions of online bingo players didn’t have enough reasons to play free bingo, now they have another–it’s good for you!

By Rachael Bullock
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