Time spent at the beach has restorative benefits for physical and mental health.
By Jo Valenti, BSN, RN, Cumberland County Mental Health Advocate
Those of us fortunate enough to live in South Jersey enjoy proximity to the famous Jersey Shore beaches. Many of us are confirmed beach people. We go every chance we get, and not just in the summer months. I, for one, love to visit in the dead of winter. It’s just something about the sand and salt air, isn’t it?Â
But did you know that scientists have studied the effect the beach has on humans, and they now know that beachgoers benefit from sun, sand, and ocean in both mind and body. What beach lovers have felt as a refreshing break has real health benefits.
Being at the beach is relaxing. It is for me, the only place I feel okay with just sitting in the chair doing absolutely nothing. I guess that reveals how Type A I am. Is there science behind that relaxation? Yes, there is: Clinical Psychologist Richard Shuster reports that staring at the ocean changes our brain waves’ frequency and puts us into a mild meditative state. And according to some psychologists, listening to the waves activates the parasympathetic nervous system. This slows us down and promotes relaxation.
The ocean smells salty, which contributes to a soothed state. Negative ions are in the air that we breath in at the beach. These oxygen atoms have an extra electron and occur in places like waterfalls and the ocean and strengthen the immune system and lung function.
Seawater is a source of magnesium, iodine, and potassium, minerals that fight infections and help the body detoxify and heal. Swimming in seawater not only purifies the skin, ridding it of toxins, but also improves blood circulation and restores essential minerals often depleted by poor diet, stress, and environmental toxins.
Even the blue color of the ocean has a calming and positive effect on our emotions. On a great beach day, the sky is blue, too, which compounds this positivity. Art historian Denis Dutton has noted that the favorite color in the world is blue. Why? It reminds us of clear blue skies or peaceful landscapes, including the beach, giving us a sense of comfort and peace.
A bright, sunny day at the beach gives us a shot of Vitamin D, essential for many functions in our body, such as the absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate. Sun exposure also stimulates the production of endorphins, which improves mood and can prevent autoimmune diseases. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with various health problems, including asthma, depression, insomnia, heart disease, and osteoporosis.
Sounds like the beach is a happy cure for what may ail you!
Sources:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ https://upmc.it/
The Cumberland County Mental Health and Addictions Board actively promotes awareness of stigma and the need for public education regarding mental health and addiction. The Board meets monthly, and the public is invited to attend. Refer to the meeting schedule on the Cumberland County website for meeting dates.
The Board is also seeking new members. Interested persons should send a letter of interest and a resume to Melissa Niles, Cumberland County Human Services, 70 W. Broad Street, Bridgeton, NJ 08302 or melissani@cumberlandcountynj.gov
