9 Proven Benefits of Swimming for Health & Fitness
Working out at the Gym does not grab your fancy, try swimming to stay fit and lose weight. Swimming not only is fun but also has several health benefits that have also been scientifically researched. Let us see how this activity, which is so much fun, can help us in staying fit with benefits of swimming for health & fitness.
Why Swimming Is the Ultimate Full-Body Exercise?
Have you ever noticed how kids light up at the sight of a swimming pool? They can spend hours splashing around, and honestly, they’ve got it right, swimming is not just fun, it’s incredibly healthy too. Here’s what happens when you’re in the water.
Buoyancy: The water gives us an upthrust due to the volume displaced by our body. This is scientifically called the Archimedes principle. You do not need to remember this, just need to understand that this is the reason why boats and ships stay afloat.
Resistance: The water around provides added resistance. Try moving your hand through the air and then through the water, you will notice added resistance to movement in the water. This is due to the greater density of the water as compared to the air. To be exact, air at sea level is 784 times less dense than water.
Cooling Effect: The water all around us provides better cooling than air. This is similar to a car engine where cooling liquid is used to maintain the machine at an optimum temperature.
Saltwater Perks: If you’re swimming in the ocean or a saltwater pool, magnesium from salt can hydrate and rejuvenate your skin.
9 Proven Benefits of Swimming for Health & Fitness
These things that are natural to a pool or beach, have various benefits associated with them, as follows.
Gentle on Joints and Muscles
As we have seen earlier, the buoyancy offer by water will help to support your body and organs while you are swimming. Thus, this form of exercise is less stressful especially when you might be dealing with an injury, sprain or other forms of ailment especially related to joints and mobility. However, you should consult your doctor before starting out on any new exercise program, so as to confirm whether it is safe for you.
In fact, as per this article based on the findings from the Journal for Sports medicine and Physical fitness, it has been found that swimming might be the best method for athletes to recover.
Certain swimming pools are being filled with salt water for Buoyancy so that you might experience the ocean in a confined pool.
Excellent Cardiovascular Exercise
Now the resistance offered by water helps you in getting a good workout. This effect is cardiovascular in nature and thus swimming strengthens the heart and lungs.
Slows Down Aging
Research has found that swimmers are biologically younger than persons who do not swim and can be recommended to prevent premature aging.
Supports Weight Loss
To put things in perspective, A 130-pound person swimming freestyle for one hour will burn 590 calories swimming fast, and 413 calories swimming slower.
Though Running and Cycling might burn more calories than swimming, the latter is easy on your joints and swimming being an enjoyable activity can go a long way in gaining leverage towards weight loss.
Improves Asthma Symptoms
Researchers studied a group of children aged seven to twelve. One group in additional to their asthma medication undertook a six-week swimming program. They found that the swimmers not only reduced their asthma symptoms but also improved normal physical and psychological development.
Reduces Stress & Boosts Mental Health
Swimming releases endorphins, the feel-good hormones. It also helps block external distractions, giving your brain a meditative break.
In a conducted survey:
- 74% said swimming reduces stress
- 68% felt better emotionally
- 70% said it mentally refreshes them
Helps Manage Diabetes
Swimming helps regulate blood sugar levels, especially beneficial for those with diabetic neuropathy. It’s a low-impact yet effective exercise for improving insulin sensitivity.
Safe During Pregnancy
A study of 17 women in their third trimester showed that swimming does not harm fetal heart rates. In fact, it’s one of the safest prenatal exercises when done under supervision.
No Sweating
Some people might be put off by sweat during land-based exercises. Swimming as it is in the water, you will not have to deal with sweat. Another reason to jump in the pool.
Wrapping Up – Benefits of Swimming
Swimming is fun, but for those who do not know how to, it might be a challenge or downright scary. Do not worry, except for people who have learned to swim as a child, this has been the initial reaction. Sign up for a swimming class where an instructor will teach you how to go about swimming. It might seem hard in the beginning, but you will get the hang of it. Later you might not want to leave the pool.
Water workouts are great, but safety comes first. A story – Right after a sweaty football match in college, my friends and I jumped into the pool without cooling down, and nearly all of us got cramps. Cramps in water are dangerous and can lead to drowning if no one’s nearby.
