Every summer I cannot wait for my first dip in the sea, jumping into the waves as bravely as I can with my little boy and then spending quite a lot of time digging Lego out of the sand. I know that’s not everyone’s idea of fun but many of us are drawn to the sea and for very good reasons:
Imaging research has shown that proximity to water is strongly linked to your brain releasing feel-good hormones including dopamine and oxytocin.
The sound of waves also stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system - staring out at the ocean can result in a relaxing, meditative state - it can even change the frequency of brain waves to match that of the sea, putting you really in touch with nature.
Whilst too much exposure to UVB is harmful, when the sun rays shine on us, it stimulates the production of Vitamin D. Vitamin D is very important because it helps our bodies to produce calcium, which in turn prevents diabetes, MS, heart disease and reduces the chance of some cancers.
Enjoy!
