It has been the perception
of many that golf is the rich man's game or the game of the exclusive group of
people who lives with prestige lifestyle. Golf courses also have been
associated to business dealings where the million dollars of contract being
discussed and closed during the game rather than the conventional way that
happen in the office conference room.
Of late public golf courses
are booming in every part of the world, golf tour tournaments and golf programs
are slowly sipping into the lifestyle of healthy people; where more and more
people is now indulging into this sport. Just like any other sports activities,
many has realized that golfing is fun, challenging and promotes good physical
activity that gives wellness to the body and mind.
Golfing requires the right
skill to play the game, the right mind set to focus and plan and a fit body to
complete the 18 holes course. Therefore this sport game has started to attract
the interest of younger generation and female golfers too. A game of golf need
not be expensive; there are many used clubs for sale, public golf courses that
are inexpensive and driving range that are good for practice.
Health Benefits of Golf.
There several benefits that
are associated with golfing that lead to a safe and healthy life. Below we
discuss some of these advantages.
1. Good sleep
Study has revealed that
continuous exercise increases your quality of sleeping. With regular exercise,
you tend to fall asleep faster and remain in a deeper sleep for a long. Sleep
is seen as important in that it gives time for your muscles to relax and repair
themselves. Playing a round of golf by day will probably increase the nature of
your sleep, which is simply one more one of the health advantages of playing
golf.
2. Golf can help you manage your weight
Playing golf can play a key
role in reducing and managing weight, which is a problem for a lot of people
these days. The sport might not involve running and jumping and other strenuous
activities, but you can still shed off some of those unwanted pounds just from
the amount of walking involved in the sport of golf and safe and healthy life.
And there is some proof
that playing the game of golf can have some positive impact as far as reducing
weight and managing it is concerned. The Mayo clinic has said that playing
about an hour of golf is going to help you in burning around 330 to 490
calories.
Of course there are certain
conditions on how you could get to burn as much calories as that. You need to carry
your own golf clubs and you also have your golf push cart and simply walk instead.
3. Absorb essential vitamin D from the sun
Another health benefit we
get from playing golf include the increased exposure to the sun. While we can
take some foods which are high in vitamin D, our bodies can actually make the
entire amount of vitamin it needs just by catching some sun while playing golf.
Vitamin D is known for strong bones; it regulates the amount of calcium and
phosphorus in the blood. Vitamin D also helps regulate the growth of skin
cells. Vitamin D is famous for its effects on bone health, but it has now been
shown to lower risk of some cancers. There is evidence that vitamin D can lower
the risk of developing breast, ovarian, colon and pancreatic cancers. And it is
quite essential for the body since it helps in regulating the amount of
phosphorous and calcium in the body, as well as being important in making our
bones strong and in regulating skin cell growth giving us a safe and healthy
life.
A sunny walk on the golf
course builds vitamin D, but did you know that it can also help you feel good?
Sunlight causes your body to increase its production of serotonin, one of
several "feel good" chemicals. Low levels of serotonin can cause
symptoms of depression and a feeling of "blah." In fact, many
anti-depressant medications try to build serotonin levels.
4. Use golf to increase your endurance
For those who have
questioned whether golf can really qualify as a physical exercise that can be
beneficial to those who play it, their doubt does not have any solid foundation
at all. Maybe they haven't tried the sport, but for those who do play it
regularly, they are well aware that their physical endurance is enhanced
through constant playing.
That's because golf
provides a great aerobic workout that results in tremendous benefits to the
body. We all know that an aerobic workout helps in reducing a person's chances
of developing heart disease, helps lower blood pressure, and also helps in
reducing risks in some types of cancer.
5. Social
One of the greatest health
benefits we get in playing golf is that it is a social game. There's a lot of
time for a chat with friends while you get to know new ones. Friends making
increases endorphins, which also helps in mental outlook and its related with
an overall feeling in well being. Study has revealed that seniors who remain
social as well as friendly live up to 6 years longer to those that don't.
