Going to the beach is one of the most delightful things you can do.
People from all around the world are constantly vacationing to beaches while those who can afford it will pay millions to have a coastal property.
What many of us beach lovers don’t realize though, is that there are actually many health benefits of hitting the beach, as well as health benefits of the ocean and ocean air.
Think about, have you ever come home from a beautiful beach day stressed or depressed? Probably not, as ridding ourselves of stress, sadness, or any other negativity, is much the reason why we hit the beach in the first place.
To dive further, let’s talk about some of the main health benefits of going to the beach.
13 Health Benefits of the Beach
Vitamin D Intake
One of the most important vitamins that we can get from the Earth is Vitamin D. Unfortunately it’s difficult to get the right amounts through eating food. Obviously you can take supplements or eat vitamin-enriched foods, though sometimes that won’t even cut it. This is where going to the beach on a sunny day can come in handy. Only 10 minutes in the sun and you can have your complete daily dose of Vitamin D.
Exercise
There are pretty much limitless options when it comes to getting a good workout in while you’re out the beach. If you decide to hit the water, you can get in a nice swim or surf session. If you’re more of a landlubber, you can take a run, dig a hole, play some beach volleyball, or just walk around collecting shells. Have you ever noticed how much harder it is to even walk on the sand vs. anywhere else? With the extra effort, the beach can give you that fit look in no time!
Getting Rid of Stress
Like we said in the beginning of the article, have you ever come back from the beach stressed out? It’s a likely no for most of us. This is because the mix of sun and sea air works together to calm your body. The gentle crashing of the waves is almost like a natural form of binaural beats, relaxing the tension built up in your body and releasing stress from within. This is why it’s such a common thing for manufacturers of sleep devices to use the sounds of crashing waves to put their consumers to sleep. It’s been scientifically proven to fight against the anxiety that many of us face daily.
Sleep
Have you ever noticed that after a day at the beach all you want to do is nap? If you’re someone who suffers from lack of sleep, a good beach trip might just be the cure. The top two reasons why people suffer from insomnia include high stress levels and low physical activity. Like we mentioned above, the beach helps to relieve your stress almost instantly, while also giving you a good workout. Plus, sitting around in the sun tires our bodies out naturally, further becoming a sleep aid.
Breathing
The quality of air as you get closer to the water is known to be much better. This is why it’s so likely for you to want to take a deep breath when you get to the beach. Individuals with certain respiratory afflictions might actually find that they breathe better when they leave they are at the beach, more so than other places. The scientific explanation for this is that the air on the beach is charged with negative ions, helping to increase oxygen levels within your lungs.
Fighting Infections
Have you ever been in the ocean water with a recent wound, only to feel the relentless, salty sting of Mother Nature herself? Don’t fret, as that painful sting is actually a natural cleansing unlike any other. Salt water has many beneficial qualities, one of them being antibacterial when it comes to wounds and infections. It also acts as somewhat of an immune booster as well, helping you to stay well after treating your infection. This comes from the percentage of iodine in the salt water, something that hospitals utilize quite often as well.
Skin Treatment
Salt water has many positive effects on the topical spectrum as well. With enough exposure to it, it can help to detoxify your skin, releasing bacteria that build up over time. Again, this is the iodine in the salt water that helps to get rid of bacteria that can turn into nasty breakouts. The sun also helps this process by opening up your pores, allowing salt water to enter and release those toxins.
Help With Aching Muscles or Arthritis
It isn’t any new news that being in the water is one of the best ways to fight things like arthritis, joint pain, or muscle pain. Water helps to take gravity out of the equation, giving your body time to stretch and expand without much resistance.
Supplement Your Iodine Intake
Like we mentioned before, the ocean water has high levels of iodine, helping you to supplement your typical iodine intake, in turn giving you more energy, increasing your metabolism, helping your hair and nails to grow, and regulating your hormones. Those are just the tip of the iceberg, as iodine has a wide variety of health benefits. If you’re looking to optimize the level of iodine in your body, a nice swim in the ocean is the perfect solution.
Get In Touch With Your Spiritual Side
You don’t have to go to church or be religious to have a spiritual side. Going to beach is a great way to have the moments of realization, calmness, oneness, and so on. Being surrounded by beauty and expanse helps you to appreciate all that Mother Nature has to offer. It can help us to feel at peace with ourselves and the things happening in our lives. This is why you so often see people meditating or practicing yoga on the beach.
Eating Seafood for Lunch or Dinner
If you’re going to the beach, it’s likely that you’ll want to stop somewhere for a bite. Because you’re near the water, there’s a good chance you’ll stop to eat some seafood. Seafood is awesome, as it’s a great source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, a nutrient that many of us lack here in the US. This can help with heart disease, among other things.
Sand is an Excellent Exfoliator
Playing around in the sand actually does wonders for your skin as well. Because sand is composed of a bunch of mini particles, it acts as an exfoliator. If you’ve ever struggled with having rough feet, hands, or elbows, try rubbing some sand on them next time that you’re at the beach. It’ll help to remove a lot of the dead skin particles that there. Take some home with you as well so you can keep it going!
Great Way To Spend Time With Family and Friends
Lastly, going to the beach is just fun! It allows us to spend time with our friends and family while unplugged from our daily lives. You can have a bonfire, go surfing, toss the Frisbee around, or enjoy a few cold ones.
