Most of us go in the swimming pool or the sea when we are on holiday to cool off from the sun and to have fun, but have we ever considered the health benefits of swimming? This article will provide 10 benefits of swimming and why it is good to continue swimming once you are back home.
1. Burns calories
Swimming is a fantastic way to burn calories and can be equally as good at burning as many calories than running or other activities. For example you can burn up to 800 calories an hour from doing swimming laps at a moderate pace. Depending on your swimming technique you can burn more calories, for example the butterfly stroke burns more calories than a breast stroke.
2. All over body workout
Swimming is an excellent choice for exercising as the water provides resistance and thus targets all areas of your body. The different swimming strokes can change your workout and focus on certain muscle areas. Swimming helps tone muscles, build stamina, strengthens joints and increases your heart rate.
3. Releases stress and improves mental health
Stress is common, from work to family life it can take a toll on us. Swimming has been known and proven to help reduce stress and improve people’s mental health. It helps with relaxation and allows you to slow down, reducing the fast-pace life you are used to out of the water. Like yoga, swimming helps with your breathing and also stretches your body out, releasing the positive endorphins making you relaxed and refreshed to tackle the world outside the water.
4. Helps with sleep
Studies have found that there is a correlation between sleep improvement and swimming. Swimming is an aerobic exercise that uses all muscles in your body which can be demanding on your body and make you exhausted without realising. Multiple studies have found that swimming at a moderate level improves your sleep, reduces insomnia and improves your quality of life.
Multiple studies have found that swimming at a moderate level improves your sleep, reduces insomnia and improves your quality of life.
5. Helps with injuries and arthritis
Swimming is regarded as one of the best exercises for people with injuries or have issues with joints due to its low-impact and support from the water. It helps people to continue with their daily exercise without putting strain on joints or injuries and has been known to help people recover from injuries and help strengthen joints whilst reducing pain. If you are in London, Guys & St Thomas Private Healthcare offers an exceptional and great service in a safe environment. In addition to helping you build muscle and recover joints, swimming also allows you to help stay active and continue to exercise whilst on the road to recovery or if you suffer from arthritis.
6. Improves lung capacity
As swimming works all muscles, it also helps improve insides as well, making your lungs and heart stronger. Studies have also shown that swimming can improve your lung capacity, as swimming helps with breathing techniques and control. As swimming helps improve lung capacity, it is also the perfect exercise for people who have Asthma, the moist air allows you to breathe easier and burn calories without irritations from the outside world.
7. Improves your health and reduces aging
In addition to swimming to help use all your muscles for a full body work out, it also does the insides of your body, helping improve cardiovascular. It can reduce aging by reducing blood pressures, cholesterol levels and increase the blood flow movement to the brain and muscle mass.
8. Increase brain function
Swimming can improve your brain function and help with memory skills. Exercising on a regular basis reduces inflammation in the body and can help cell growth in the brain. In addition to releasing endorphins and improving your mental health, it also allows the brain to be clearer, allowing it to think and make more effective decisions. Studies have found that swimming can help stimulate kids’ brains for example, in maths it can help with adding and subtracting calculations through the number of meters swam.
In addition to releasing endorphins and improving your mental health, it also allows the brain to be clearer, allowing it to think and make more effective decisions.
9. Perfect exercise during pregnancy
Swimming is safe during pregnancy and is actually been shown to minimise the risk of birth complications and reduce or ease labour. Swimming allows you to continue exercising without putting tension on your body. It uses all body muscles, whilst also strengthening them, improving your endurance and the water supports your body which can help ease any pain from baby weight. Like all, swimming helps feeling energised, relaxed and can improve your sleep, it can also ease pain like swollen ankles, feet and back pain during pregnancy. Check your local leisure centres as some provide qualified instructors for aqua-natal classes. It is also important to check with your midwife if you decide to start swimming, as some pregnancies can be high risk and may not be recommended.
10. Great for all abilities
Our bodys are supported by the water when swimming, therefore, it is perfect for abilities and all ages. It is the perfect exercise to get children involved in as it is a fun hobby to enjoy and allows for them to exercise without it being a task. Swimming is the perfect opportunity for people with disabilities to exercise. It allows you to work out and stretch without putting strain on joints and muscles, easing pressure points. This can also be said for the elderly, it allows you to do a body workout without exhausting yourself, putting strain on your body, injuring yourself it can also strengthen and help with balance.
Verdict
You are never too old or young to try a new activity, and with the massive amounts of health benefits that swimming can provide, you should check out your local leisure centre and give swimming a go, as it will do wonders to your body and mental health. Remember to drink lots of water once you get out of the pool.
