Summer has us looking for the nearest beach or pool to cool down, but did you know that as well as being fun, swimming is a great way to keep fit, stay healthy and make friends. Swimming is a healthy activity that you can continue for a lifetime. It is a low-impact activity that has many physical and mental health benefits.
No matter what your fitness level, there are many general benefits of swimming. A simple half hour of leisure swimming is said to burn 220 calories, in comparison to the 99 calories burnt when walking for the same time period.
Swimming.org has offered us a good reason to take the plunge
The top 8 benefits of swimming
- Full body workout.Swimming uses all the muscles in the body and exercising in water makes your body work harder so 30 minutes in a pool is worth 45 minutes of the same activity on land.
- Great for general wellbeing. Just 30 minutes of swimming three times a week alongside a balanced, healthy diet and lifestyle is one of the best ways to stay fit and healthy and maintain a positive mental outlook.
- De-stresses and relaxes. Swimming regularly can lower stress levels, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve your sleep patterns.
- Burns those calories. Swimming is one of the most effective ways to burn calories. A gentle swim can burn over 200 calories in just half an hour, more than double that of walking.
- Lowers the risk of diseases. As well as being a great form of cardiovascular exercise, swimming just 30 minutes a week can help to guard against heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.
- Supports the body. Water supports up to 90 per cent of the body’s weight. So if you have a long term injury or illness, swimming is a brilliant way to stay active.
- Increases your energy levels. Just 30 minutes of swimming three times per week can boost your energy levels through increased metabolic rate.
- Exercising without the sweat. As a swimmer, you’ll never feel sweaty no matter how hard you work because the water around you is constantly cooling you down.
If you have been enjoying leisurely swims in the ocean, whilst on your summer holidays, why not consider keeping this up once you are home? There are plenty of local leisure centres that offer pool facilities.