A New Simple Prescription for Better Overall Health
Why a day at the beach is so restorative and how you can get that same results at home
“Blue spaces” can improve mental health
There are only a few things I miss about living in Hawaii and the great year-round weather is certainly at the top of the list. All this cold weather in Texas makes me miss Hawaii. I miss wearing shorts and living a life without shoes year round. Having to wear all these layers makes me miss feeling the sun on my skin. There is nothing the could make me feel better faster than the warmth of the sun on my shoulders.
It got me thinking about why we long for time at the beach. We all dream of spending time at the beach. It is so relaxing. In fact, there are distinct mental health benefits from spending time at the beach.
Interacting with “blue space” water sources in the form of lakes, rivers, ponds, oceans, and even swimming pools, may directly improve a person’s physical and mental health. In fact, being in or near water environments may lead to relaxation, improved social interactions, better brain health, enhanced physical activity and relief from stress, according to emerging research. To optimize health, experts suggest that clinicians consider a simple prescription for their patients-spending more time in or near the water.
Spending time in nature and in the fresh air has an overall calming effect and leaves us feeling peaceful.
Physiological health benefits from spending time at the beach
1. Feeling the sun on our skin
That big yellow ball in the sky helps us make vitamin D, which not only boosts our mood by helping to increase serotonin levels, but it also has distinct effects on our immune system.
The active form of vitamin D (1,25-D) binds the vitamin D receptor (VDR), a nuclear receptor, modulating and stimulating the transcription of over 913 genes in a cell and tissue specific manner. Many of these genes have been associated with autoimmune disease, cancer, and delay of graft rejection. The production of antimicrobial peptides by macrophages and endothelial cells is upregulated by vitamin D. In macrophages and T cells VDR affects production of cytokines and chemokines such as IL-2, IL-12, GM-CSF, and IFNγ and has been shown to inhibit production of inflammatory chemokines in animal models of multiple sclerosis and type I diabetes.
A prospective cohort study concluded that serum 25-D concentrations of >38 ng/ml or higher significantly reduced the incidence of viral respiratory tract infections with a marked reduction in the duration of illness.
So get outside, sans sunscreen for at least 20-30 minutes a day and get the sun on your skin. If that is not possible in your area then be sure to supplement with vitamin D3. I routinely take between 5,000 and 10,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily. Just be sure to also include vitamin K2 to prevent formation of kidney stones.
2. Feeling the sand on your feet
Source: https://1000awesomethings.com/2008/12/17/872-the-feeling-of-scrunching-sand-in-your-feet/
There is a phenomenon known as “grounding.” Grounding, also called earthing, is a technique some people use to connect their physical bodies to the earth's electrical energy. Grounding or earthing refers to direct skin contact with the surface of the earth, such as with bare feet or laying down.
The goal of grounding is to restore an electrical connection with the earth. Positive electrons in the form of free radicals can build up in our bodies. Direct contact with the sand and salt water, which have negative charges, balance this out. This is why you likely feel more energized and relaxed anytime you’re on the beach — and why many of us feel so naturally drawn to the sea.
Some health benefits of grounding that have been studied include: improved blood flow, improved immune system function (particularly the concentrations of white blood cells and cytokines), reduced pain, reduced inflammation, reduced autoimmune signaling, and improved wound healing.
Ways to practice grounding outdoors include:
Routinely walking barefoot outdoors on dirt, grass, or sand
Standing in humid dirt or sand with bare feet
Pressing your bare hands into the grass or earth
Sitting on a chair, bench, or wheelchair with your bare feet set flat on the earth
Lying flat on the dirt, grass, sand, or gravel with your back, legs, or arms bare
Submerging yourself in a natural body of water, such as swimming in a pond, lake, or ocean
Gardening with your bare hands in the soil
Dr. Rachel Taylor has a whole month dedicated to the practice of grounding, so take your shoes off and go for a walk on over to her Substack for a month dedicated to this practice.
3. Playing in the ocean waves
Sea water, which is also an alkaline water, is rich in minerals like magnesium, zinc, iron and potassium. These minerals can help reduce inflammation, protect our skin and heal any scrapes, cuts or sores. Sea water is antiviral, antibacterial and enhances wound healing due to the high sodium and iodine content. Due to the above minerals, sea water is also great for chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
Salt water can also help enhance the flow of lymph fluid, which can reduce the appearance of cellulite. Thanks to the high magnesium levels in salt water, being in or near the ocean can help regulate your muscles and nerve functionality, moderate blood sugar levels and even improve your sleep. This often leaves you feeling rejuvenated. Magnesium is a critical element in our bodies – and one that a lot of people are deficient in.
It just so happens that salt water also has a lot of the essential trace nutrients we need. These include manganese, cobalt, sodium, calcium, and boron. But don’t worry, you do not need to drink saltwater to get these trace minerals. They are absorbed by your body through your skin when you are in or near the ocean!
If you don’t live near an ocean and find it difficult to swim in the ocean you can run a bath and add 1 cup of Epsom salts which is also high in magnesium. If you don’t have a bath, a foot bath will work so you can escape to the seaside even in your mind, relax, unwind and embrace all the healing benefits the sea has to offer. Finally, you can try “sole water” by adding a non-iodized salt, such as Himalayan pink salt, to water in a large glass jar.
Great article. I can imagine Jennifer that you might be missing Hawaii while writing this. While Hawaii has its issues, I still love memories of kayaking with the family there on a perfect fall day…