Live Healthy: 10 Perks of Going to the Beach
A trip to the beach goes beyond enjoying the warm sand, blue skies, and the waves. Science reveals that spending time at the beach also benefits your mind and body. With that in mind, you should consider scheduling a beach trip with your family or friends as soon as you are able.
If you often spend your time at the beach just sitting in a chair with some refreshments and a good book to read, know that there are other ways to reap the ocean’s benefits. And these include taking a walk along the shore and going for a dip in the ocean. Also, you could try activities like diving and snorkeling.
It would be best if you stay for a night or two at the best beach club so you can engage in different water activities and have an extended opportunity to relax.
Here are 10 health benefits that you can enjoy from spending a day at the beach.
1. Being at the beach relaxes your mind and body.
The mere sound of the ocean waves can calm brain activity. Looking at the blue color of the sky induces feelings of peace and serenity. Also, the sunlight stimulates your brain to produce more serotonin, a compound that positively affects your mood and sleep.
Moreover, swimming has been found to improve mood and reduce depression and anxiety.
2. It relieves stress.
Stress is inevitable, but manageable. If you are stressed out, taking a trip to the beach is a great idea. The calming effects of the sun and waves are enough to relieve stress. A beach is also a place where you can lay down, take a nap, and simply relax.
3. It increases vitamin D absorption.
The sun is the best source of vitamin D, an essential component for boosting your immune system, metabolism, and bone and mental health. When you are low on this vital vitamin, unprotected sun exposure for just 10 minutes is enough to meet your daily dose. But make sure to apply sunscreen and reapply after each time you go for a swim to prevent your skin from getting sunburned.
4. It helps clear your skin.
A trip to the beach is an excellent alternative to spa treatments. The salty water helps open up the pores in your skin, drawing out excess oil and impurities. The salt and iodine in seawater have antibacterial properties, killing the bacteria that cause acne. In turn, blemishes can heal quickly, and breakouts can be reduced or prevented.
Furthermore, sand is an excellent exfoliator. Gently rub wet sand onto your skin to remove dead skin cells. Again, protect your skin from too much sun by applying sunscreen.
5. It improves your hair’s condition.
The sea salt can remove oils from your scalp and hair. Salt also prevents and eliminates dandruff. Just remember to rinse off the saltwater after a while to prevent it from drying out your hair.
6. It prevents infections and eases inflammation.
Seawater contains iodine, potassium, magnesium, and other elements that can alleviate inflammation and prevent infection. Salt is a natural disinfectant that will hasten healing and clean wounds. Iodine helps an underactive thyroid and boosts your metabolism, while magnesium treats skin redness, inflammation, and rosacea.
7. It burns calories.
Swimming and diving are known to burn about 600 calories in an hour. That is equal to jogging, but it is a less painful and more enjoyable activity. Also, swimming is a lower impact exercise; the gentle water resistance allows individuals with injuries or arthritis to enjoy moving around.
Even taking a walk along the shore will burn calories because walking over sand requires at least twice more energy expenditure as opposed to stepping over hard surfaces.
8. It stimulates all the senses.
Spending time at the beach stimulates all your senses, especially touch. Walking barefoot over the sand stimulates thousands of nerve endings in each foot. This physical sensation will help you reap the perks of earthing.
9. It eases your breathing.
Your sinuses will benefit from spending a day at the beach. Getting salt water up your nose while swimming (often unintentionally) will help flush your sinuses and clear out any congestion.
Furthermore, breathing the ocean air thins mucus, decreases sinus pressure, and reduces coughing. The sea breeze also contains more negative ions that boost oxygen absorption in the lungs. This makes deep breathing easier and helps stabilize serotonin levels.
10. It improves the quality of your sleep.
A good night’s sleep is inhibited by hormone imbalance and stress. Staying at the beach for a few days, where you can be calmed by the sound of waves and the fresh air, can help regulate hormones and relieve stress. So if you find it difficult to fall asleep at night, vacationing at a beach club is a good remedy. And since your skin will absorb magnesium, your muscular and nervous systems will become serene, helping to improve your sleep.
Leading a healthy life is not just about eating nutritious food and doing proper exercise. Taking your mind off your hectic daily routines and not worrying about anything, even for just a few days, by taking a trip to the beach is an excellent way of rebooting yourself. The beach is one of the best environments you can immerse yourself in if you need to rejuvenate your mind and body.
From the beach’s serene sights to the different water activities you can engage in, you have plenty of opportunities to break free from any stressor and achieve a healthier life.
Author Bio
Chiara Bisignani is the F&B Marketing Executive at Saadiyat Beach Club. She oversees website maintenance, PR requests, marketing initiatives and all general guests’ enquiries for the company’s destinations of KOI Restaurant & Lounge, Boa Steakhouse and Caramel Restaurant and Lounge in Abu Dhabi.
