6 Reasons Your Body Wants a Beach Holiday Now!
Beach Holiday Cravings
Sun – Sea Air – Sand – Sea
Sitting on a quiet beach, listening to the waves, breathing in the sea air and taking a dip in the cool refreshing water. It is the ultimate place to go for relaxation and stress relief. However, although many of us flock to the beach and consider it relaxing, have you ever wondered why you feel so good at the beach? It feels good because it IS good! The reason is more than just the fact that you escaped the hurly burly of daily life; there is a scientific explanation. There are many health benefits of the beach and the sea, including wonderful healing properties. If you want to feel amazing… read on!
INHALING SEA AIR
The reason sea air is so healthy and makes us feel great, is that it contains tiny droplets of sea water enriched with salt, iodine, magnesium and trace elements, which are scattered into the air by wind and waves. Known as surf-generated aerosols they accelerate our ability to absorb oxygen. Negative ions also balance levels of serotonin, a body chemical linked with mood and stress. Which is why after a holiday you feel more alert, relaxed and energised.
SENSIBLE SUN EXPOSURE
Another feel good aspect of the beach is the sun! Yes, you can get the health benefits of sun anywhere but at the beach you’re more likely to have more skin exposed which increases the benefits. When we’re lying on the beach, the heat of the sun affects our endocrine system – the part of our body which secretes endorphins – the natural chemicals in our body designed to make us feel relaxed and less stressed.
Studies have shown that a sensible amount of unprotected sun exposure reduces your risk of several cancers and other serious health conditions. And it’s all thanks to vitamin D, which is made by our bodies through the action of the sun’s UVB rays on our skin. It is essential for absorbing calcium, keeping our bones healthy, and for protecting against serious chronic diseases later in life such as osteoporosis, Type II diabetes, multiple sclerosis and many common cancers.
Professor Michael Holick, of Boston University School of Medicine and author of The UV Advantage, recommends that we go out in the sun without sunblock for between 5 and 15 minutes a day, at least 3 times a week in spring and summer, to boost our vitamin D levels. He also says “We get about 90 to 95 per cent of our vitamin D from the sun.”
So if you’re heading to the beach, why not wait 10 minutes after you arrive before slip, slop, slapping?
EXFOLIATING SAND
It always feels great on your feet when you walk in the sand at the beach. It’s because there are somewhere between 3,000 and 7,000 nerve endings in each foot that awaken when you walk across those tiny grains. Wet sand acts as a natural exfoliant and peels off dead skin cells from your feet (and really, anywhere else on your body), leaving them renewed and much softer.
To take full advantage of sand’s rejuvenating qualities, take a walk near the water where the sand is “looser” and can wash over your feet. If you’re thinking exfoliation is a luxury and not a health essential, think again. Your skin sheds about 50,000 skin cells every minute and sometimes they stay attached to your body, which can cause your pores to clog and lead to blackhead and acne. Exfoliation keeps the skin clean, healthy and rejuvenated.
So, what are you waiting for? Take a walk on the beach, if only to get rid of all those dead skin cells or if you’re brave enough, maybe have a roll in the wet sand and exfoliate your whole body!
Healing Sea Water
People have known about the positive health benefits of sea water from as early as 460BC! Hippocrates first used the word “thalassotherapy” to describe the healing effects of seawater and the Ancient Greeks appreciated the health and beauty benefits of this mineral-rich water and bathed and soaked in seawater-filled pools and hot tubs.
A swim in the sea improves your mood and health. Amongst several benefits, swimming in seawater can help increase your immune system function, improve circulation, promote overall well-being and hydrate your skin.
Seawater contains vital elements, vitamins, mineral salts, trace elements, amino acids and living microorganisms that can produce antibiotic and antibacterial effects to help promote a healthy immune system. It also improves circulation by restoring essential minerals depleted by stress, a poor diet and environmental poisons.
Swimming in seawater also helps facilitate the circulation of blood in your body. It has been used for centuries by many for overall improved health and well-being. Swimming in warm seawater activates the body’s healing mechanisms to fight conditions such as asthma, arthritis, bronchitis and inflammatory diseases, as well as common aches and pains. Magnesium-rich seawater can also relax your muscles, reduce stress and help induce sleep. Magnesium depresses nerves to relieve nervous irritability for an increased sense of calmness.
Last but not least, the magnesium in seawater can also help hydrate and improve the appearance of your skin!
Sounds like an incredible health retreat to me… and it is FREE!
LET’S GET PHYSICAL
Going to the beach usually involves some sort of physical activity right? Whether you’re swimming, jogging, taking the dog for a walk or run, surfing, playing beach volleyball or simply walking through the sand, rare is the day when you go to the beach and do absolutely no exercise.
Walking on the beach is already a better workout than walking on concrete or grass, because:
“walking on sand requires 1.6-2.5 times more mechanical work than does walking on a hard surface at the same speed.”
Plus, you’re burning major calories by just going for a swim, for example. A leisurely swim can burn about 200 calories. Surfing? Just over 100. Frisbee? About the same. And beach volleyball is nearly 300. Why not ditch the gym with the steamed up windows, this gym has fresh air, a fantastic view and it’s also FREE!
UNPLUG
Even when we go away on holidays, our minds are never far from home. Let’s face it, it’s pretty hard to resist that little piece of technology that helps us stay connected with our friends, family and what’s going on in the world 24/7.
Unplugging is good for the mind, body and soul. Studies have shown that being constantly ‘plugged in’ leads stress, loss of sleep and depression. It’s hardly surprising that anxiety is the most common mental health disorder in Australia, with more than 2 million people experiencing anxiety in a 12-month period. Our minds are constantly stimulated. We are a culture that thrives on being busy. And now, when we do have down time, we fill it looking at what’s going on in other people’s lives (Facebook – I’m looking at you!).
Leave the smartphones and tablets at home and escape to the beach regularly, then see just how good you feel!
So is your body begging you to book that beach holiday? There is no doubt that the beach is nature’s health retreat but are you aware of the huge health benefits or regularly taking short holidays too? Why not Ditch the Multivitamins and Pack a Suitcase Instead?
For the best health and wellbeing results, take a short holiday at a beach like port Elliot, Victor Harbor, Carrickalinga, Encounter Bay, Goolwa or Middleton! Check out our pet friendly accommodation at each of these beautiful beach destinations. Click here!