7 Surprising Health Benefits Of The Beach
"There's something about the ocean that makes you feel better."
—Elia Kazan
Have you ever noticed how a walk on the beach melts away stress and leaves you feeling better than when you started? It's not just a placebo—there's a growing body of scientific evidence to support it. Spending time by the ocean offers a variety of surprising health benefits.
This connection to the coast is something many of us can relate to on a personal level. Maybe it reminds you of childhood memories, like building sandcastles or splashing in the waves. Or maybe you remember how you physically and emotionally felt after a day on the beach with family and friends. My own parents, for example, had a unique tradition: whenever they faced a tough decision, a walk on the beach was their go-to strategy. They swore by the calming effect it had on their minds, helping them clear their heads and reach agreements.
Interestingly, science seems to be catching up with this intuitive connection. The beach has long been the picturesque billboard to advertise paradise and tranquility but there's more to the story than just picture-perfect scenery. A surprising amount of scientific evidence is emerging about the real health benefits of spending time by the ocean. So, what's the secret sauce behind this combination of sand, sun, and surf? Let's dive deeper and explore the science that explains why the beach can be such a powerful wellness tool.
The Health Benefits of the Beach
1. Negative Ions
Negative ions are molecules that contain an extra electron, abundant in environments like ocean beaches where crashing waves and sea spray generate them naturally. Inhaling these negative ions can improve lung function and respiratory conditions such as cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Furthermore, research finds that negative ions purify the air by attaching to airborne pollutants like pollen, mold spores, and dust, effectively removing these common allergens from the atmosphere.
Negative ions are also associated with enhanced mood, reduced stress levels, and better sleep by promoting the production of serotonin in the brain. These benefits extend to overall mental health, as increased serotonin levels can help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety and improve cognitive function.
2. Red Light Therapy
One of my favorite shore traditions is the nightly walk down the street to see the beautiful sunset over the bay. It turns out we get more out of those sunsets than just great pictures. Sunrises and sunsets offer natural red light therapy. With wavelengths typically ranging from 620 to 700 nanometers, red light penetrates the skin to stimulate cellular activity, reducing inflammation, improving skin health, and boosting mood. Studies show it enhances healing by increasing blood flow and reducing oxidative stress, aiding conditions like arthritis, thyroid function, chronic pain, and muscle recovery. Red light also promotes collagen and elastin production, improving skin elasticity and reducing wrinkles, scars, and acne.
Exposure to red light during sunrise and sunset, lasting approximately 15-30 minutes, influences mood and circadian rhythms. It enhances serotonin production, promoting relaxation and improving sleep quality. The benefits of red light therapy have only come to the forefront in the last decade or two and I'm a new convert using my Bon Charge Red Light Device when I can't get to a sunrise or sunset.
3. Mineral Absorption
While anyone who ventures "down the shore" may not think of the ocean as a crystal-clear oasis, there are plenty of healthy minerals lurking in that water, regardless of how transparent it is. Seawater is rich in magnesium, sodium, and iodine, providing potential health benefits beyond a nice swim.
Magnesium, for example, is more efficiently absorbed through the skin than via supplements. The benefits of magnesium include improved muscle relaxation, stress reduction, and better sleep. Research suggests magnesium may also contribute to a variety of lesser-known health benefits including improved bone density, muscle mass, blood sugar control, and healthy cholesterol levels. It’s even been shown to improve cognition in kids with ADHD.
The benefits of seawater extend beyond internal health. The natural salt content acts as a detoxifier, drawing impurities from the body and promoting skin health while also inhibiting bacterial growth.
4. Activates the Parasympathetic Nervous System
Time spent at the beach offers more than just a scenic escape—it actively enhances cognitive function, memory, and focus by immersing us in an environment that resonates with our evolutionary past. When our ancestors saw wide-open natural environments, they knew that they were safe. There were no immediate concerns of tribal invaders, lions, or storms. This turned down their fight-or-flight sympathetic nervous system and turned up their rest-digest-repair parasympathetic nervous system which decreases heart rate and cortisol and releases the feel-good neuromodulator serotonin.
Additionally, the beach environment provides a multi-sensory experience that supports this natural calm. The predictable, rhythmic sound of crashing waves, the warm sand, the salt air, and the serene blue ocean all contribute to a profound sense of relaxation and mental clarity.
In fact, one study showed that environments of water are "associated with higher preferences, greater positive affect and higher perceived restorativeness than those without water." Another study titled, Happiness is greater in natural environments, found that "Marine and coastal margins are by some distance the happiest locations."
5. The Vitamin D
When you think of the beach, you probably envision sun, sand, and sea. The sun provides the opportunity for a hormetic stressor and for your body to produce Vitamin D, a critical nutrient for your health. The sea and the sand act as literal mirrors, maximizing your sun exposure, which explains why you are more likely to get sunburned at the beach. This exposure triggers a host of beneficial mechanisms in the body. Unfortunately, many people today don't reap these benefits, as Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common deficiencies today. This is at least partly because we spend only about 7% of our lives outdoors, limiting our sun exposure and significantly impairing our health.
Vitamin D, although technically a hormone rather than a vitamin, is crucial for bone health and immune function. Its benefits extend further, contributing to improved strength, muscle protein synthesis, reduced depression levels, cancer prevention, and enhanced longevity.
Of course, there can be too much of a good thing so balance balance sun exposure with skin protection. After your body absorbs the minimum effective dose of sunlight, use natural sunscreen to protect yourself from potential sun damage.
6. Digital Detox
Spending time at the beach offers benefits for digital detoxification, primarily by reducing exposure to EMF and encouraging moments without electronic devices. Electromagnetic fields (EMF) are emitted by everyday electronics like cell phones, routers, and computers, has been linked to a range of health concerns including infertility, thyroid dysfunction, sleep disturbances, and even increased cancer risks such as gliomas and leukemia. The beach provides a natural environment free from high-density EMF sources, allowing us to minimize our exposure and potentially mitigate associated health risks.
Moreover, being at the beach encourages a break from our excessive use of digital devices which have been associated with sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, and decreased cognitive function. While Instagram reels are addicting, the novelty of a beautiful place hits our deepest ancestral neurotransmitters. Plus the fact that electronics don’t do well when they come in contact with sand, water, or excessive heat although I’m not optimistic this will be the case many decades from now. It breaks my heart a bit to see kids and adults alike sitting on the beach with a phone or tablet when paradise is just inches beyond that. For me, it’s an opportunity to leave my phone away from the beach although when I am with the kids I bring it as a camera and put it on airplane mode.
7. Grounding Effect
Walking barefoot on the sand facilitates grounding (a.k.a. earthing), a process where the body connects with the Earth's surface to absorb electrons. This interaction is rooted in our evolutionary history, where humans traditionally had regular contact with the Earth and benefited from its negative charge to balance bodily electrons. Nowadays our modern shoe-wearing society has limited contact with the earth, obstructing this natural electron exchange, potentially contributing to health issues linked to inflammation and oxidative stress.
Researchers have found that grounding improves sleep, HRV, and blood pressure; reduces pain and inflammation, and speeds up wound healing and recovery after exercise. Plus, there’s the bonus of foot exfoliation when you walk in the sand. Learn more about grounding and how to do it when you don't have access to a beach here.
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