8 reasons why you might want to go swimming
Written by Daily Fix - Published 24-Aug-2022, last updated 19-Mar-2024
No matter what your fitness level or age, there are so many health benefits of swimming, both physical health and mental health.
Swimming is a great whole body workout. And it's a low-impact form of exercise, so it's easy on your joints.
Swimming can help you lose weight, build muscle, and improve your cardiovascular health. It's also a great way to relax and reduce stress.
In this article we look at some of the manor benefits of swimming and 8 reasons why you should go swimming - whether you are thinking of getting swimming lessons, or you are already a good swimmer.
Swimming is a good full body workout
Swimming uses all the muscles in the body so whether you swim a gentle breaststroke or race up and down the swimming pool doing front crawl, you will get an entire body workout. Plus, exercising in water makes your body work harder so 30 minutes in a pool is a great way to increase your heart rate and improve lung capacity. The various strokes mean anyone can find a way of swimming that suits their ability and fitness level.
Credit: Ri Butov, Pixabay
Swimming supports the body
Water helps support the body's weight. So swimming can be a good option if you have joint pain but want to exercise.
Salt water gives even more buoyancy than fresh water so swimming in the sea not only supports your body more than swimming in the pool, but the extra buoyancy helps your body stay higher in the water so you may even be able to swim faster!
Pregnant women may enjoy swimming as a way of keeping active, and people carrying excess body weight may find swimming more desirable than running on a treadmill or playing active land-based sports whilst still getting a good workout.
Swimming is great for general wellbeing
Exercising for just 30 minutes, three times per week, combined with a well-balanced diet and healthy lifestyle is a very good method to maintain optimal mental and physical health.
If you prefer more social interaction then encourage your friends to go swimming with you to make it even more enjoyable - for all of you!
Swimming can de-stress and relax you
Whether work is a bit full-on at the moment or it's your schoolwork stressful you out, we all have times we want de-stress and relax. The health benefits of swimming can extend the physical benefits and be a great mental health improver too.
You may find that regular swimming can help reduce stress levels, anxiety, and trouble sleeping whilst helping you to relax.
Credit: Emily Rose, Pexels
Swimming is a great way of burning calories
Swimming is one of the most effective ways to burn calories. And it doesn't have to be a full on swimming workout.
A gentle swim can burn around 200 to 250 calories in just 30 minutes (this varies by weight, fitness etc.), more than double that of walking.
And a faster swim using freestyle or front crawl would see the calories gone even quicker, perhaps burning 350 to 400 calories in 30 minutes.
Compare the rate of calorie burn swimming to that of running - an 80Kg person would burn around 350 calories running at 12 minute mile pace for 30 minutes. So swimming is a great activity for those looking to burn calories and an excellent way of contributing to weight loss.
And if running isn't your thing as you hate dripping in sweat, you'll never feel sweaty no matter how hard you swim because the water around you is constantly cooling you down.
Swimming 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 disease.
In an article titled "Benefits of Swimming", The BDA says that regular swimming can have potential health benefits for adults of all ages including:
- Improvement of asthma symptoms by mastering correct breathing
- Reduced risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes
- Relief of pain from arthritis
- Improved bone density, particularly for postmenopausal women
Swimming may help lower blood pressure
Research carried out by the American Journal of Cardiology ("Effects of Swimming Training on Blood Pressure and Vascular Function in Adults over 50 Years of Age") and published by Reuters Health in an article titled "Swimming lowers older adults' blood pressure"...
appears to be the first to demonstrate that swimming can improve older adults' blood vessel function and curb their blood pressure.
Researchers found that among 43 older men and women, those who started swimming a few times a week lowered their systolic blood pressure - the 'top' number in a blood pressure reading.
Swimming increases your energy levels
While you may blame a reduction in energy levels as just a result of ageing, inactivity and not ageing is often responsible for people's lack of energy.
Swimming for only thirty minutes three times every week can increase your energy levels by increasing the rate of your metabolic process.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many reasons to go swimming, not least for the physical and mental health benefits.
Swimming is a great way to stay in shape, relieve stress, and enjoy the outdoors. Whether you're swimming laps at the pool or taking a dip in the sea, why not make an effort to go swimming more often and benefit from making regular exercise part of your life.
FAQs
Swimming has been linked to improved mental well-being due to its calming effect on the mind and the release of endorphins. It can also provide a sense of accomplishment and boost self-esteem.
Swimming is often recommended for rehabilitation purposes as it provides gentle resistance to aid in muscle recovery while minimizing impact on injured areas.
Swimming is an effective calorie-burning exercise that can aid in weight loss when combined with a balanced diet. It offers a high-intensity workout without putting excessive strain on joints.
Regular swimming can help strengthens respiratory muscles, increases lung capacity, and improves breathing techniques, making it an excellent exercise for individuals with asthma or other respiratory conditions.
Swimming is a low-impact activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and fitness levels. It is particularly beneficial for older adults as it helps maintain joint mobility and balance.
Swimming is known to be a great stress reliever as it promotes relaxation and releases endorphins which boost mood and reduce anxiety.
Swimming provides a full-body workout, improves cardiovascular health, builds muscle strength, increases flexibility, and helps with weight management.