Why Golf Is Good for You!
While not typically considered a physically challenging sport, playing golf can be beneficial to both your mind and body. The game can stimulate you mentally, while getting you out of the house and walking around for several hours.
How Golf Helps Your Heart
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people over 65. The most common risk factors, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol, affect seniors more than younger adults. Although not as physically strenuous as other sports, golf is still a form of exercise that can benefit your health. Walking from hole to hole, carrying your clubs, and the actual action of taking a swing all get you moving and increase your heart rate. This reduces your risk of stroke and diabetes by reducing your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Mental Benefits
While walking the course helps your physical health, it can also enhance your mental health. Regular exercise strengthens the brain’s memory circuits, which reduces the risk of dementia. The strong blood flow means more oxygen gets to your brain, which is great for memory retention. Golf is also a game of strategy, and exercising strategy is also wonderful for keeping your mind sharp. Furthermore, this sport has the ability to reduce your stress levels. Golf allows you socialization opportunities, which releases endorphins and other mood boosting chemicals. Fresh air, mental stimulation, and exercise help you fall into a deeper sleep quicker.
Why Golf?
Unlike other more intense forms of exercise, golf is a low injury sport. It is low-impact, as you are walking on soft surface. However, an added benefit of courses is that the ground is never even. So while you’re walking, you have the added benefit of alternating inclines and declines that you typically wouldn’t have on a treadmill. Avoid the urge to take a golf cart in order to take advantage of the walking benefits. This is a great way to burn calories without risking a hard injury. In a study conducted by the Karolinska Institute, a professor found that golfers have a 40% lower death rate. This corresponded to a 5 year increase in their life expectancy!
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