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Are you trying to lose those last 10 pounds? Did you receive news from the doctor that you need to focus more on heart health?
You might think you have to start training for a marathon or take up extreme mountain climbing, but youd be wrong.
A round of golf is just as beneficial for you as many other strenuous activities. Plus, lets face it its a lot more fun than running on a treadmill.
Didnt know that golfing was the perfect exercise? Keep reading as we break down the top 10 health benefits of golf.
1) Stress Relief
Who doesnt feel stressed these days? From work demands being more than we can bear to financial troubles, everyone has something that stresses them out.
Everyone has a different way of dealing with stress, too. Calling up a friend or heading to Happy Hour is all well and good, but a round of golf is much better.
Hitting the links with a pal when youre stressed out helps you to stay social, exercise, and take your mind off of whatevers bothering you.
Plus, doesnt it feel good to imagine whatevers bugging you is the ball and then giving it a good whack? Fore!
2) Heart Health
The secret to great cardiovascular health is a diet of whole foods and regular, heart-pounding exercise.
Believe it or not, one of the benefits of golf is a healthy heart! While its not as strenuous as heavy weight lifting or long-distance running, golf can still help you reach your heart health goals.
Walking the greens and swinging a club are both great ways to help lower your cholesterol and get your recommended daily activity.
3) Weight Loss
To keep fit, everyone should walk 10,000 steps a day. Luckily, a round of golf satisfies that requirement!
From walking to carrying your bag to swinging your clubs, youll burn calories out on the links. Even if you use the cart, youll still get plenty of steps in.
Play golf regularly enough and youll see the pounds melt off. Moving your belt down a few notches is just one more great benefit of golf!
4) Stronger Bones
Most of us know what it takes to keep our heart healthy. But how many of us know how to build up our bones?
High impact activities or weight-bearing exercises are wonderful for improving bone density. After a certain age, though, your joints cant handle hard jumping or heavy lifting.
The solution? Go golfing! Carrying your golf bag counts as a weight-bearing exercise and will help both your muscles and your bones.
5) Mental Health
Weve talked about the benefits of golf for your body, but what about your mind? Golf requires planning and concentration two things that help keep your brain in tip-top shape.
Navigating the hazards, visualizing your goal, and adjusting your swing all take mental strength. Thats what makes golf interesting and rewarding.
Work out one of the most important parts of your body on the golf course your mind!
6) Vitamin D
Feeling sluggish or tired? Have you noticed your cuts dont heal as fast as they used to? These are all signs of a vitamin D deficiency.
Because were so busy all the time, its easy to mistake vitamin D deficiency as normal fatigue. You can turn that around with a game of golf.
Exposure to the sun helps your body create vitamin D. Thats why you feel perkier and your mood lifts anytime you play a round of golf.
7) Lower Blood Sugar
Humans use glucose as their primary form of fuel. We usually get glucose from carbohydrates, fruits, and sugar.
When theres an excess of glucose, this leads to obesity and inflammation. A step to curbing these effects is to cut down your refined sugar intake and to exercise.
Playing a round of golf is a great way to keep active and lower your blood sugar through exercise. So pick up your Best Fairway Woods and hit a few balls to bring down your glucose levels!
8) Better Sleep
Exercise can definitely amp you up, but it also wears you out. Once the feel-good rush courses through your blood, your body begins to relax.
That relaxation leads to better sleep. A nice walk down the fairways will expend your energy and help you capture the best rest of your life.
A good nights rest can also improve your golf score! Thats a win-win situation right there.
9) Boost Your Confidence
You know that feeling when you tally up your final score and you did better than you thought? How about the thrill of finally sinking a hole-in-one?
That feeling can follow you long after youve left the links. One of the best benefits of golf is improved confidence.
Doing well on the fairway can be the shot in the arm you need. With improved confidence, youll feel motivated to go after that promotion at work or try something new with your partner.
10) Prolong Your Life
Weve already listed a lot of benefits of playing golf. Getting vitamin D, sleeping better, lowering blood sugar, and improving your overall health are just a few ways this game can help you.
But can it prolong your life?
While its not definite that golfing can add years to your life, all signs point to it being possible. Regular exercise, socializing with friends, using your brain, and enjoying yourself can make your golden years really shine.
Enjoy All the Benefits of Golf
The sun is out, the weather is mild, and youve got the day free. If you love golf, you probably think this is the perfect time to break out those clubs.
If golf isnt the perfect exercise, it comes close enough. From physical to mental benefits, a round or two on the weekend can make your life so much better.
Even if you loved to play golf before, youve no doubt learned of the many benefits of golf. It might even help you convince your buddy or spouse to head to the links with you!
Looking for more great reads on golf or your other favorite hobbies? Check out our latest hobby posts.
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