Have
you ever spent a day at the beach and come back home feeling relaxed
and rejuvenated? You may readily agree that the beach has a calming
effect, but did you also know that being at the beach can have a
dramatic effect on your health and well-being and can even change your
brain. Let’s take a look at some of the scientifically backed benefits
that the beach can offer.
Lora Fleming of the
University of Exeter in England says the idea that the beach helps our
health is well established. As early as the 18th
century doctors use to prescribe trips to the ocean to visit “bathing
hospitals”. Bathing hospitals wee specially designed clinics that
provided seawater bath treatments.
Fleming notes however, that scientist have only started looking at the ocean’s health benefits experimentally in recent times.
1. Your Brain’s Prefrontal Cortex Is Activated
The
prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain associated with emotion and
self-refection (as well as other functions) has been shown to be engaged
when ocean sounds are played. Scans taken by scientists of participants
of studies that were exposed to ocean sounds and traffic noises proved
that this was the case.
2. Ocean Waves Generate Negative Ions
The
peaceful feeling we get at the beach could be a result of molecular
changes that are happening in our bodies. The ocean’s waves produce
negative ions. Negative ions accelerate our bodies ability to absorb
oxygen. They also balance levels of serotonin; a chemical produced by
the body that is related to mood and stress. This is one reason why
being at the beach have been linked, by scientists to positive mental
energy and a general overall sense of health and well-being. It may even
make us sleep better.
3. Your Stress Hormone Cortisol Level Would Be Lowered
The
reason the beach has such a calming effect on us could be because of
the sound the waves make. Shelley Batts, Ph.D., an auditory
neuroscientist at Stanford University and a presenter at the first Blue
Mind Summit writes “There’s a lot of research that has parsed out what
types of noise humans find pleasant and relaxing, and what types are
considered noxious and stress-inducing”.
The
most relaxing and pleasant sounds to listen to are those that have
predictable wave patterns. The sound should also be middling to low
pitches, soft in volumes and harmonic frequencies at regular intervals.
The waves of the ocean tick all of these boxes. They are regular and
soft to listen to.
The sound of the ocean may
have an even deeper emotional effect according to Batts. The noise of
the ocean ““probably triggers deep memories or feelings of relaxation
and safety. Some people might even say it’s recalling the womb and your mother’s heartbeat.”
There
is a stress hormone called cortisol. Some noises, such as traffic and
airplane noise can cause this hormone to be released. When this hormone
is release health problems such as ulcers and heart disease can occur.
The calming noise of the ocean works to decrease cortisol levels. In
this way the ocean can have a positive effect on our overall health and
may prevent potential health problems.
4. The Flat Ocean’s Surface Calms You
The
flat plane of the ocean’s surface may also give us a sense of security
and safety. Neuroscientist Michael Merzenich says that humans feel safe
when they are in places that are not complex. In forest humans need to
be weary of predator animals; in the cities there are crooks and
villains to be wary of; however, at the beach we can see for miles and
this gives us peace of mind. There are no potential threats to think
about.
“We’re constructed, neurologically, to
normalize our environment—to bring it under our control,” Merzenich
says. “When we look out to the sea, or we’re along the strand, we’re in a
predictable, stable environment.”
Summation
So
next time you see it is a nice sunny day outside why not take a trip to
the beach? You will be doing yourself and your body a world of good.
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