Dr. Frank Lippmann
There are plenty of reasons to love the ocean and spending time in it. We emerged from it millions of years ago, so in a way, the ocean is literally a part of us. It’s no surprise that the ocean has the power to calm and invigorate. In fact, spending time in the ocean (or any large body of water) offers many physical and mental health benefits. Use the ocean as therapy now while the days are still long, and carry it on into the fall and winter, when our light-starved bodies and minds will need its healing energy even more. Here’s how you can harness its power (figuratively) and reap its benefits.
“TLSea” supports better mental health.
The temptation to take a day trip to the beach or a seaside vacation in the summer is almost primal. In winter, when temperatures drop and daylight hours are short, the temptation may feel even stronger when all you can think about is escaping to a sunny tropical island. It’s as if your body and brain are telling you in a loud voice that you need the ocean. And they are. Studies show that people who live near coastal waters report significantly better mental and physical health than those who live inland. Even visiting or viewing “blue spaces,” or bodies of water, can have a positive impact on your mental health, especially depression. So, enjoy this natural remedy from Mother Earth. And with an estimated half of Americans living within 50 miles of a coastline and even more living near blue spaces, this drug-free mental health elixir is likely within reach.
Spending time at the beach will boost your Vitamin D levels.
When you head to blue space — the ocean, lakes, or rivers — there’s a good chance you’ll find plenty of sunshine and nice weather. Exposing yourself to warm sunlight, while being wise and responsible and avoiding burns, is a great way to get your natural dose of Vitamin D. Not only is Vitamin D essential for strong bones and teeth, it also supports immune function, reduces the risk of infection, and helps reduce other major health destabilizers, including autoimmune diseases, heart disease, and multiple sclerosis.
Spending time at the beach can improve the quality of your sleep.
If you’re not satisfied with your sleep skills, spending time in a blue space may be just what the doctor prescribed. Bright sunlight during the day (dancing artfully over the water’s surface) helps reconnect and reset your body clock to the natural rhythm of light and dark. This conditions your body to release wake and sleep hormones, cortisol and melatonin, and neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain) at the right times, which in turn makes it much easier to fall asleep. Daily exposure to bright sunlight jumpstarts your sleep/wake cycle; spending time by the water is a great, relaxing way to restart that process.
Sea breeze is a miracle cure for respiratory ailments.
Do you suffer from asthma symptoms or respiratory problems? Do you suffer from frequent allergies or worse? An ocean breeze can help in this regard too. Not only does ocean air smell fresh and invigorating, it also carries magnesium, iodine and salt, which can help ease your symptoms and make breathing a little easier. For allergy sufferers, ocean breezes help blow away irritants such as pollen and spores. The negative ions in ocean air also increase your body’s ability to absorb oxygen, making breathing easier.
Being near water gives your brain a break.
According to the European Centre for Environment and Human Health, blue spaces, like natural land-based green spaces, have a positive impact on health, reducing stress, de-stimulating the brain and promoting calm. This is great for many systems in the body, especially the cardiovascular system and the brain. Why do we feel calmer when we are near the sea? It is thought that a watery or beachy environment replenishes the brain and gives it a much-needed break from the intense focus of everyday life. The brain switches into a state of “soft attention”, allowing the mind to relax and wander freely. Gazing at a blue horizon changes brainwave activity, slowing the brain down and putting you into a light, meditative, blissful state. What other benefits do sea air ions have? According to one estimate, they improve the electrical function of the brain by about 47 percent. All of this is good for brain health.
The view, and all that blue, appeals to your senses.
Spending time by the water stimulates all of your senses: sight, smell, touch, hearing, and the pleasant taste of salt in the air that you feel when you breathe in while near the water. According to a study published in Science, a journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the color blue is associated with calmness and increased creativity, and gazing into the blue ocean enhances that feeling even more. In addition, there is the soothing, hypnotic sound of waves lapping on the shore, or the sound of water slowly cascading down a river or waterfall, which activates the parasympathetic nervous system, further enhancing the sense of calm. So does the feeling of water on your skin and warm sand between your toes. The ocean does everything it can to make it nearly impossible to stay on edge. Whether you spend a week at the beach or just a day, the effects are powerful and amazing from head to toe.
Enjoy movement and connection by the water.
Being by the sea fosters two very important good habits: exercise and social connection. As for exercise, there are plenty of opportunities to do it, and it happens naturally. Walking barefoot along the shore and physically connecting with the natural world (a.k.a. grounding), playing with your kids in the sand, swimming in the surf, practicing beach volleyball moves – all of these count as exercise and promote health and a better night’s sleep. You may notice that walking on the sand and grounding (or earthing) reduces pain and increases energy because your feet are physically connected to the electrons on the Earth’s surface. Take advantage of it. And in addition to physically connecting with the world, connecting with your peers means you have more time to play, chat, and socialize, and you spend a lot less time staring at electronic devices and straining your neck and eyes, which helps you make more memories. This is worth the trip from anywhere.
It can be taken any time of the year, even in winter.
Spending time by the sea or in blue spaces has many benefits for the body and mind. Don’t think that you can only enjoy it in the summer. The seaside has its charms in all seasons, but autumn and winter are great times to enjoy the benefits of fewer crowds. Dress warmly and enjoy the winter light, the cries of the seagulls, the crashing waves and the breeze. Take a walk near the water, or just sit and be still, look out to sea, meditate and take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the sea and the natural world. drfranklipman.com
