Why Going To The Beach Is Good For Your Health
In case you needed any more reason to go to the beach, there are several health benefits that will feed both your body and mind without even trying. You'll leave glowing, relaxed, happy, and with even nicer hair!
You'll Save Money On Skin Care Products
Ocean water is unique from all other waters because it contains way higher amounts of minerals like sodium, chloride, sulfate, magnesium, and calcium. Those are the minerals that are used in most skin products anyway!
It Can Help Treat Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition where the immune system attacks healthy cells. Those who suffer from it will experience itchy and scaly rashes.
Bathing in mineral-rich water has been adapted as "balneotherapy" to treat psoriasis. Saltwater can dry your skin out, though, so make sure to rinse afterward.
Add Seawater To Your Eczema Skincare Routine
Eczema is another immune condition that can be helped by swimming in the sea. It's especially helpful as eczema can make it hard to exercise in the heat or in chlorinated pools.
Plus, the absorption of magnesium can be beneficial for eczema skin, acting like a moisturizer to ease the dryness. Again, while those minerals are great, the salt can ultimately dry your skin out and make things worse if you don't rinse off after.
Catching Some UV Rays And Vitamin D
Time in the sun is good for both your mental and physical health. The heat from the rays boosts the endocrine system, which is responsible for regulating our metabolism, growth, sleep, and other functions.
And the time in the sun gives you natural Vitamin D, which is not only good for your bones but also for lowering your blood pressure and supporting your immune system.
It's A Free Workout That Doesn't Feel Like A Workout
Just an hour of relaxed swimming can burn 500 calories! And if you're swimming in cold water, you'll burn even more!
It's so easy to be active at the beach without realizing, even walking on the sand requires more effort than on flat ground. These energizing activities can have longterm benefits for your health and well-being.
It Frees Your Mind Like Meditation
"The sound and vision of the ocean lift our mood," says consultant psychiatrist Dr. Arghya Sarkhel. “The touch of sand and the smell of a seaside breeze leads to relaxation."
Basically, the audio and visual stimulation activates the nervous system and instructs the body to rest and digest instead of fight or flight. The water actually changes your breathing pattern and slows down your heart to match the waves. This enters you into a meditative state.
Salt Is Like A Happy Drug
"Sea air is charged with negative ions, which increases our happy hormone, serotonin," says Kevin Benitez Garcia of Gran Canaria Wellness. This is why seawater is often used in spa treatments like lasso therapy.
The View Can Give You Better Sleep
Just watching the waves can be so captivating that it gains "fascination value." This powers clarity and focus in the brain and helps you get a better night's sleep.
A study by the National Trust showed that coastal walkers had an improved quality of sleep and slept for 47 minutes more than inland walkers, thanks to the rhythm of the waves.
You Breathe Easier By The Sea
If you have asthma, ocean air can help reduce symptoms and improve respiratory health. This works the same for hay fever and sinusitis because the saline can reduce inflammation of the sinus.
Free Therapy That Reduces Depression And Anxiety
When you swim in the weightlessness of water, you can slow down your brain waves to a calm state. It's almost like a distraction from life.
In fact, swimming has been shown to decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety. The effects have been compared to antidepressant pills like paroxetine. And there's no reason you can't do both and add some much-deserved beach time to your mental health regimen.
Swimming In Cold Water Will Having Your Muscles Thanking You
Cold water activates temperature receptors in your body. Those release hormones like endorphins, adrenalin, and cortisol, which are therapeutic for the muscles. They help with chronic pain, discomfort, and tenderness.
Plus, frequent exposure can help with organ function and immunity. Not to mention you burn more calories in cold water from your body trying to preserve its temperature.
It Works Wonders On Your Hair
The natural salt in seawater works like a cleanser. It removes oils from your hair and scalp. It will also get rid of dandruff and remove product build-up.
Plus, the salt will give you natural beachy waves and volume while the sun naturally gives you highlights.
The Soothing Sound Of The Waves Is Music To Your Brain
You can reach heightened rejuvenation just by listening to the waves as they may regulate your brainwave patterns too to a calming state. And when you're actually in the waves, your body sends more blood to your heart. The increase in blood flow makes you way more alert.
It Can (Sometimes) Help Heal Wounds
Clean ocean water is often considered an antiseptic, which means it has wound-healing and wound-cleaning properties. Certainly, this is true of saline, which is sterile. Who doesn't want to skip a visit to the doctor?
Of course, depending on how clean the water is near you, it might have pathogens in it that could lead to infection. Water in the tropics can have some especially nasty bacteria, so you may even want to avoid those waters if you've got a wound.
It Engages All Your Senses
Just the smell of the ocean breeze can create a soothing state, thanks to the negative ions you breathe in the air. They hold oxygen atoms that have an extra electron.
As for touch, just dipping your feet in the warm sand can make you feel good and relaxed.
The Color Blue Is Magic For The Eyes
The research done by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health found that seeing "blue space" had a greater positive effect on people than "green space," even if they're not there in person.
Just by looking at the blue ocean water, they reported lower levels of stress and pain.
It Connects You Back To Nature
Even a day trip to the beach feels like a mini-vacation where we can put our phones away and enjoy either solitude or quality time. Downtime is important to recharge our brains and get the creative juices flowing.
Sand Makes For A Great (And Cheap) Spa Substitute
Sand is a natural exfoliant that helps shed dead skin, especially when it's wet. It leaves you with softer, newer skin.
And since the feet have between 3,000 and 7,000 nerve endings in each foot, just walking on it awakens those nerves.
You'll Look Younger Longer
Seawater preserves the elasticity of the skin as it's full of anti-aging minerals. Treating yourself to some saltwater can keep everything looking tighter and younger without crazy and expensive cosmetic products and surgeons.
It Will Let Give You A "Big Picture" Positive Perspective
Staring at the blue waters make you feel small. It helps you realize that the world is so big, so in comparison whatever is weighing on your mind will start to feel really irrelevant. It's a great way to gain perspective and refocus.
