The Sea – An Inexhaustible Source Of Good Health

The sea and health are linked. This is especially true because our brain reacts positively in this environment: it relaxes, its perception improves, its creativity increases and it attains greater mental acuity. Few moments are as comforting as when we feel the warm sand under our feet, listen to the sound of the waves and experience the coolness of this salty breeze.

Sailors, surfers and biologists all say the same thing: the sea has a magic, it captivates and has always exerted a mysterious attraction on people. The unfathomable expanse of the blue water triggers a wide range of sensations in us. Sometimes it is enough to take a moment on the beach to recharge your batteries and discover how the sea lifts our spirits.

“The ocean is older than the mountains and laden with the memories and dreams of the time.”

Lovecraft

Suffice it to recall the well-known practice of Victorian doctors. Those suffering from tuberculosis, melancholy, or simple lovesickness were prescribed to breathe sea air. Therefore, beaches have always been understood as an ideal therapeutic resource for both the rich and the poor. And they work. Because of their ability to improve mood and because the ocean is good for health, as science has proven time and again.

Sea and health: the therapeutic effects of the aquatic environment

A study from 2011 shows that the aquatic environment improves well-being and has a positive effect on our health. That is why the sea as well as rivers and lakes cause changes in our mental state, our brain and body.

That is the mystery and allure of bluish scenes to which many writers have been determined to answer. One of them was the well-known marine biologist Sir Alister Hardy. He is best known for participating in one of the first expeditions to Antarctica, which took place in 1925. Our bodies respond positively to healthy environments like water, he said.

When people left the savannah, reached the coasts and discovered the sea, some changes occurred. Suddenly we had access to new foods, especially omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for brain development and health. The therapeutic effect of the sea with its strong stimuli could also create an early and very strong connection to the water world. Hence, there is an abundance of artistic and scientific work on the subject. One of these works is that of Dr. Jenny Roe from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh (Scotland, United Kingdom). A study led by her found that a whole range of physiological reactions take place when it comes into contact with the sea. We release endorphins, the cortisol level drops, and alpha waves are generated in our brain.

The hominids’ early contact with the sea established a link between sea and health and may have left an imprint on us that has never faded and that reminds us of its benefits, its undeniably positive effect on our wellbeing.

The healing power of the ocean

The sea and health are interrelated. The ocean produces what scientists sometimes refer to as “blue health,” and this is summarized as follows:

The blue ghost

Our brain reacts positively to the sight of water. Just the thought of smelling and touching it puts the brain in a state of absolute relaxation. This ideal rest favors the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, which improve our mood.

The sea also powers our creativity, reduces fears and improves basic cognitive processes such as memory and attention.

Ideal for the airways

The salty breeze is a gift to our respiratory system. It clears them, cleanses the lungs and also has an antibiotic effect. The sea is ideal for people with asthma and allergies.

Connection and strength

Both the sound of the sea and the sight of these scenes, which are dominated by movement, light and space, favor the appearance of alpha waves in our brain. We enter a state of calm and the connection to ourselves improves. Even more, based on work published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine   , the ocean breeze contributes to this state of relaxation and inner contact.

The sea air is also charged with negative ions. The work mentioned also showed that these particles are produced in all natural water environments: in seas, rivers, waterfalls, etc. Their effect favors the production of serotonin and allows us to enter a state of inner balance. This in turn fills us with energy, motivation, creativity, courage to relate to ourselves and an interest in socializing.

So when we get a chance, we listen to our instincts, to that primitive voice that knows and understands that the ocean is a good place to spend the day. It’s worth it, it’s worth it for your health.