How to stay fit: The best sports for people over 50

Just because you are older shouldn't be an excuse not to exercise when you reach 50. The benefits of continued or starting exercise in your 50s are scientifically proven to help you when you get into your 60s, 70s, and 80s.

Exercising in your 50s can be pivotal in helping you live a long and happy life, as it can prevent diseases, improve your mental health, and help you build better social relationships as you approach retirement.

According to KBA Financial, research has shown that regular exercise in your 50s can enhance your cognitive brain function, lowering the risk of dementia and neurodegenerative diseases. So, go on, give one of these sports a try!

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Perhaps the best sport for those over 50 to take up is swimming, as it gives you a full-body workout that requires constant movement and targets all your muscle groups. Swimming improves your cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength.

The water can hold 90% of a person's body weight, according to LifeConnect24, meaning there is far less stress on joints and less chance of sustaining injury.

Did you know that balance starts to decline after 60, making joint damage through falls more likely? To combat this in your 50s, yoga, pilates, and tai chi are all classes that can maintain the range of motion in your joints and also boost flexibility.

According to WebMD, a golfer will typically walk between four and six miles after playing 18 holes, improving lung function and cardiovascular fitness, leading to weight loss and lowering the risk of heart conditions.

Practising your golf swing can also improve your flexibility, stability, strength, and hand-eye coordination. Consistently shifting your weight and changing your stance will improve balance and lower the risk of falls later in life.

Badminton is a sport for everyone. It is gentler on your joints than tennis and uses subtler wrist movements. It makes it the perfect sport for people with less mobility and is something you can continue to play even in old age.

According to the British Heart Foundation, badminton can strengthen your heart muscles and limit the risk of blood vessels clogging, reducing your risk of coronary heart disease.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Cycling has a whole host of benefits, and much like badminton, cycling allows you to decide how much physical effort you wish to put in. Better Health states that cycling improves cardiovascular fitness and fat loss, reducing the risk of strokes and other cardiovascular diseases.

Cycling improves your stability and balance and uses all of the major muscle groups as you pedal. Better Health also states cycling can lower the risk of colon, breast cancer, and diabetes, and improve mental health.

Do you want to reduce the risk of heart disease by half? A five-minute run every day is what stands between you and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. LifeConnect24 reports that runners have a 27% lower risk of death.

The best time to go running is early in the morning before you eat your breakfast. This is because your breakfast will be used to restore your body rather than storing it up. Less storage means less weight, lowering the risk of joint issues and diseases.

If running isn't your cup of tea, a brisk walk can reduce your risk of developing some cancers, such as breast, bowel, and womb cancer. It can keep your heart strong by increasing your heart rate and strengthening your bones, preventing the onset of osteoporosis.

Walking is the most accessible exercise/sport on this list and the easiest to incorporate into daily life. Instead of driving to the shop, take a stroll. Instead of taking an elevator, walk up the stairs. Just 15 minutes of walking a day can do wonders.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!