Oh we do like to be beside the seaside !
Why?
Health Benefits to the Body, Mind & Soul
1. Walking on Sand feels amazing.
Like walking barefoot on the sand? Your body does too. Walking in sand stimulates the 200,000+ nerve endings on the soles of your feet. Because the ground beneath you is constantly shifting, you also use muscles in your feet you don’t use when you’re wearing shoes, so you burn more calories. In fact, it takes double the energy to walk on sand than on a hard surface – so it’s great exercise!
2. Your skin will benefit.
The sand isn’t just good for your feet! Sand is a natural exfoliant, so it rubs away dead skin and lets your pores breathe – clearing away blackheads and acne. But that’s not the only way the beach is good for your skin. The sun’s UV rays also dry out the skin, which is great for people who suffer from psoriasis. The salt and potassium chloride in seawater also helps heal dermatitis, a skin rash. Plus, seawater helps preserve the elasticity of the skin and contains magnesium which moisturizes your skin.
3. The sound of the sea is calming.
There’s a reason sound machines that lull you to sleep all have ocean soundtracks. Listening to waves crash against the shore can actually alter your brain waves, lulling you into a relaxed state, and may trigger the release of dopamine and serotonin. All this reduces your stress levels and helps you relax.
4. Your immunity is boosted by a trip to the beach.
Doctors have been prescribing trips to the ocean for centuries, and for several excellent reasons. Sunlight gives you vitamin D, which helps prevent auto-immune diseases. Seawater contains several minerals and other compounds that helps boost your immune system and rid your body of toxins. For example, seawater helps cuts heal faster (although it stings) and can even stop a runny nose. The waves contain iodine, which is great for your thyroid and subsequently boosts your immune system.
5. Sea air IS good for you.
The air at the beach is thought to be full of negative ions. Not only do these boost your immune system, but they also help balance your levels of serotonin. This improves your mood and reduces your stress levels, plus it helps you sleep better at night!
6. It is easier and more likely you will exercise at the beach.
You could plonk yourself at the beach and lay out in the sun all day. But chances are, you will want to be running around and swimming. Just walking on the beach is better for you than walking on pavement – and those benefits are magnified if you are running. Swimming is also great for you because it’s a low-impact sport that’s easy on the joints and still burns a lot of calories.
7. Different coasts around the country are renowned for their amazing seafood.
Every coastal village has pockets of boats and shops which cater for the fishing industry and buying locally helps communities thrive, and ensures the freshest of produce.
Seafood restaurants abound at the beach, and you’re far more likely to get quality fish, and seafood close to the shore. Seafood is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, a nutrient lacking in many diets. You can’t get much fresher!
Omega-3 fatty acids have several health benefits, like reducing your risk of heart disease and regulating triglyceride levels in the blood. Shellfish contain vital micronutrients, too. Oysters, mussels and prawns contain zinc, which helps immunity and selenium, a vital antioxidant.
8. Life gets some balance by the sea.
When you stare out at the ocean, its sheer vastness makes you feel tiny. And that’s a great thing! Being at the ocean is therapeutic because it helps put your problems in perspective. This is a major boon to your mental health – and why picturing the ocean is so common in many relaxation exercises.
9. Vitamin D is vital to your wellbeing…
It’s widely believed that spending just an hour outside on a sunny day can supply a human with their daily dose of Vitamin D. At the beach, where sunbathing is a wildly popular practice, you can enjoy the many benefits of the vitamin D including stronger bones, healthier teeth, and helping your immune system function properly. Far more fun than a tablet.
Provided you wear a high-protection factor sunscreen and avoid the lunchtime heat, a little exposure to the sun can improve your sense of physical and emotional wellbeing. The ultraviolet rays stimulate the production of vitamin D, which enables your body to make good use of phosphorus and calcium, promoting strong bones and cell division.
Enjoying a sunny day also increases your production of serotonin, the neurotransmitter that helps you to feel alert, active and positive.
10. Being by the Sea makes us feel like a child again.
Spending time on the beach evokes childhood memories of playing in the sea and building sand castles , tapping into our playful, imaginative side. When we relax, our creative and emotional sides come together and we become open to new ideas. The beach can be a sports arena, an office, studio, picnic venue, classroom or a meeting place for friends…
A holiday by the sea can be a time to reassess your life. Putting some perspective between yourself and your home life and getting the chance to be a child for a few blissful hours.. days.. weeks…
Or maybe even for ever?
Fancy a Paddle?
The Ancient Greeks knew what they were talking about when they termed the phrase ‘thalassotherapy’ (The word was coined by Hippocrates in the 4th Century BC. It comes from the Greek thalassa, meaning water, and therapia, meaning ‘to cure’. The Greeks believed – that immersing in mineral-rich seawater offered many different health benefits. Back in the 18thCentury, doctors would prescribe visits to ‘bathing hospitals’ – special clinics which offered sea-water treatments. In many locations all over the world people pay a small fortune to be dunked in sea-water or covered in seaweed. You can do it for free on your own doorstep!
According to experts, sea-water can help overall wellbeing by improving immune function, boosting circulation (there’s nothing quite like the heart-accelerating rush from making a dash into the waves), and even hydrating skin.
Sea-water contains the same 84 vital elements as the human body – in fact, blood plasma has almost the exact concentration of minerals and trace elements. It’s rich in iodine – which boosts thyroid activity and supports our immune function. And in particular, one of the reasons sea-water’s so good for us is its high levels of magnesium.
Get Creative
Whether it is declaring your love in the sand, trying on a seaweed wig or making a work of art in driftwood, the beach is a wonderful environment to get creative! Great for the kids to go exploring in the rock pools and see what you can find, but remember the crabs can nip!
Try using the sand, shells, stones, driftwood, seaweed and anything washed ashore to express yourselves. Enjoy the fresh sea air and listen to the sounds of the waves as you let yourself get lost in the moment.
Meet you at the Beach !
Beach life 