At first glance, your pool may look like just a cool, blue, sparkling oasis complete with shimmering waterfalls and state-of-the-art LED lights that is sure to impress your friends or increase your property value, but studies show that actually swimming in your pool can be beneficial to you. In fact, according to research, water has invigorating effects that can greatly enhance your overall well being.
Some reasons to indulge in your pool or research a pool builder near me this summer include:
Water is Great for Improving Your Physical Health
Swimming utilizes each muscle in the body, so you get a total body workout, which helps build a strong, toned physique. The water’s natural resistance also makes your body work harder, so just a half an hour in the pool is equivalent to about 45 minutes of the same athletics out of the pool, which means you also burn more calories in less time. In fact, studies show that just a moderate swim can burn up to 400 calories or more per hour .
Studies show that swimming also helps strengthen your lungs and may even be used to help asthma suffers learn to manage their breathing . It also helps improve your cardiovascular health, which helps decrease bad cholesterol and protect against stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
Experts recommend a quick swim for about a half an hour per week for improved heart and lung health.
Since water supports the body, swimming is less jarring on the joints as opposed to more vigorous activities, such as running; therefore, it’s great for people of all ages.
It can even help those with MS, arthritis, injuries, and other conditions relieve pain.
In fact, many professional athletes often utilize water therapy to reduce pain and rehabilitate their injuries .
Water is Great for Improving Your Mental Health
Swimming, more effectively than any other exercise, helps boost cognitive function, which helps improve your mental health.
In fact, a study conducted on a group of dementia patients showed that after just 12 weeks of participating in a water program, the patients experienced an overall improvement in their psychological state, including improved ability to focus and concentrate and improved memory .
Research shows that people who suffer from mental illnesses, such as psychoses, ADHD, and other conditions that affect an individual’s thought activity, emotions, and ability to socialize, can also improve their psychological health through swimming.
People who suffer from work-induced stress, financial problems, relationship woes, and other life stressors can also enhance their mental health via swimming.
Water is Great for Improving Your Emotional Well-Being
Swimming stimulates the body’s release of endorphins, which helps you relax and open up. This positive feeling in the body has also been shown to help reduce depression and anxiety and improve sleep.
Research shows that swimming, as with any form of exercise, also helps boost self-esteem. In other words, it improves the way you view yourself, mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally, which is great for overall emotional health. In fact, according to research, active people are less stressed, less depressed, and have a more positive self-image than inactive people , which makes for a happier person.
Experts recommend just a half an hour of swimming three times per week along with a healthy lifestyle and diet to stay fit, healthy, and maintain a positive outlook for improved emotional well being.
In the end, your pool is a gold mine of health benefits just waiting to happen. In fact, just a light swim regularly can help keep your stress levels low, reduce depression and anxiety, and improve your sleep. So the next time you need to take the edge off a stressful day, you need mental clarity, or you simply want to improve your outlook, turn to your pool and let it prove itself as a great investment in both your home as well as yourself.
