5 Amazing Health Benefits of Swimming

Swimming is a type of full-body workout that can be done as an individual or in a team. To enjoy the health benefits of swimming, one does not need to be a competitive or professional swimmer. There are different styles of swimming and one can decide which technique to do for the laps in the pool. These include freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, sidestroke, and butterfly.

5 Health Benefits of Swimming

Swimming is good for you and there are incredible health benefits to this workout. 

Helps with Weight Loss

Swimming helps in toning muscles and increasing heart rate without giving stress to the body. It's a healthy way to burn calories and lose weight. This sport or exercise engages several different muscles group and the cardiovascular system. 

As, swimming is an entire body workout; it involves upper and lower body muscles, and it gives core, arms, legs, glutes, and back - strength and tones them. Many public swimming pools give the facility to swim combined with aerobics (aqua-aerobics) to lose weight.

Swimming 75 yards in a minute would burn around 750 calories in an hour. To burn a pound, one needs to burn 3500 calories. So, if hoping to lose a pound per week, do swimming for an hour, three times a week. 

This steady workout can be considered better than going to the gym when compared to lifting weights. A huge amount of health benefits of swimming can't be ignored along with weight loss as the gym can't help with de-stressing the body and makes one feel relaxed.

If looking to lose weight fast, learn more about the 9 Quickest Ways to Lose Weight [Naturally]

Great for Lungs

Swimming aids the heart and lungs to work more efficiently by training the body to use oxygen more effectively - improving the resting heart and breathing rate. Water immersion during swimming leads to the strengthening of the muscles as well as chest wall elasticity - outcoming in a higher level of lung function.

A swimming workout can better lung capacity and activate larger muscle groups that need a larger volume of oxygen to perform their task adequately, however, swimming strenuously or during several minutes of swimming in water has a chlorine level below the recommended point for disinfecting the pool can cause respiratory problems. Also, heavily chlorinated pools can give cough/chest tightness, and difficulty in breathing in some people.

Benefits of Swimming for the Skin

Saltwater swimming can be a beauty therapy for the skin. One can easily see a difference when switching from pool swimming to an open-water workout. Saltwater swimming retains skin moisture and detoxifies to aid new cell production. Ocean or seawater makes skin refreshed and healthy.

Swimming regularly regulates metabolism and helps to remove toxins through it. The steady motion increases heart rate and boosts metabolism which results in toxin removal that cleanses the pores naturally and makes skin glow.

Chlorine water purifies the water molecules and during immersion, it cleanses the water molecule present on the skin and attacks the bacteria that cause acne, however, more time spent in heavily chlorinated water can irritate the skin and open the pores - leaving it dry and itchy. Applying a swimming moisturiser prior to heavily chlorinated water swimming can help to prevent it from becoming dry and irritated. 

Mental Health Benefits of Swimming

Swimming releases endorphins in the brain that are 'feeling happy' hormones. This brings a sense of happiness and well-being by increasing positivity. Swimming can lower stress more than other sports or exercises. 

People having mental health issues usually suffer from anxiety, depression, and insomnia. It's thought that after swimming one feels relaxed and this workout soothes the mind and reduces anxiety. Just half an hour of this activity boosts mood, manages stress, and improves sleep. 

A small study found that immersion in the water can increase blood flow to the brain which has a positive impact on the brain as it improves oxygen and nutrient supply to the brain while protecting it from toxins.

Some researches show that people living near the coastal area have better health and well-being though more research is needed in this area. If experiencing bouts of stress or depression, learn more about Depression and Anxiety: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment for useful information and remedies.

Both NHS or Private healthcare for employees covers Mental healthcare plans. It costs around £150 -£400 for initial consultation or assessments. It may be covered by insurance or will be free of cost on NHS. Also, you can talk to a therapist online anonymously or choose betterhelp online counseling or a service of your choice.

Health Benefits of Swimming is for Everyone

One of the best health benefits of swimming is its all-embracing characteristic. It can be done by anybody whether recovering from an injury, expecting a baby, a new mum, or a contestant. This activity is a great workout as long as one knows how to swim and control the pace as it doesn't place added stress on the body.

Swimming Safety Rules

Below are some of the main rules for swimming safely.

• Don't swim alone.
• Swim only in a lifeguard patrol area.
• Don't stay in the water for long especially when feeling tired, cold, or overheated.
• Avoid trying to swim in the river currents.
• Eschew swimming in the dark.
• Must follow all the swimming instructions posted in the area.
• Don't swim near a dam, boat ramp, under diving boards, or when see lightning or hear thunder.
• Go down feet in the pool first rather than diving as it can injure the head, neck, or back.

How to Stay Motivated for the Swimming?

Make swimming a habit by setting aside time every week for it. Consider buying an annual pass as it would encourage one to go swimming. Making swimming a routine makes it harder to avoid and certainly, you start feeling something is lacking without it.

Go with family, so you can have a fun and memorable time with them. Enjoying time with loved ones motivates you to go more for these sessions. 

Friends can also be good company. Go with a friend having the same ability as you so both can encourage each other when one is not so keen. 

Joining a club would be perfect if wanting to be motivated, Find a swimming club near you.

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10 Amazing Health Benefits of Walking

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