Summer is right around the corner and will bring an onslaught of seasonal swimmers out of the woodwork. Though, with innumerable physical and mental benefits, swimming shouldn’t only be reserved for the warm weather months.
Here are 7 reasons to incorporate swimming into your regular workout routine:
- IMPROVED BRAIN FUNCTION
You’ll get more than just a swimmer’s body when you take up swim workouts; your brain will get a boost, too. Swimming has been found to increase blood flow to the brain, which leads to more oxygen. That means you’ll be more alert and will experience better memory and cognitive function.
One study found that just being in a chest-level body of water can have a positive effect on blood flow to the brain; participants experienced increased blood flow to their cerebral arteries by 14%.
- KIDS EXPERIENCE A SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT
A study of 7,000 children under 5 years old found that children who participated in swimming at a young age achieved skills and reached physical milestones earlier than their non-swimming peers, regardless of socio-economic background. Not coincidentally, their literacy and numeric skills were better, too.
- YOUR MOOD WILL IMPROVE
If you only swim during the summer months, it’s time to break out your swimsuit during the winter. That’s because, despite the lower temperatures, one study found that swimmers who hit the pool regularly between October and January reported less fatigue, tension and memory loss.
Moreover, swimmers who suffered from ailments like rheumatism, fibromyalgia or asthma found that wintertime swimming eased their aches and pains.
If you suffer from hypertension, swim workouts are an excellent way to lower resting blood pressure. One study found that, over a 10-week period, men and women who had previously been sedentary but had hypertension decreased their resting heart rate significantly. This is particularly useful for people who struggle with other exercises because of their weight, asthma or injuries.
- YOU’LL LIVE LONGER
Swimming has been found to increase life expectancy. One study of more than 40,000 men between 20–90 years old found that those participants who swam or did other pool exercises like water jogging or aqua aerobics lowered their risk of dying from any cause by nearly 50%.
- LESS RISK OF DEVELOPING HEART DISEASE
In a study of patients with osteoarthritis, researchers found that swimming just as effective — and sometimes more so — as cycling in increasing cardiovascular function and reducing inflammation.
- PERFECT ALTERNATIVE TO HIGH-IMPACT WORKOUTS
Swimming is easy on the joints, uses muscles you don’t normally engage, and allows you to zone out without fear of hurting yourself — making it a great alternative to high-impact activities
In short, the innumerable health and mental benefits make swimming an amazing activity to incorporate into your routine year round.
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Source: https://draxe.com
