5 Surprising Benefits of Sea Swimming

Overlooking the golden sands of Ballygally Bay, guests have an opportunity to experience something truly spectacular…

More of us than ever are braving the chill of ice baths or taking up cold water swimming as a new hobby – even during the winter months. Lots of people claim that it can be good for our bodies, but what actually are the health benefits?

Speeds up your Metabolism

When swimming in cold water, our body has to work harder to stay warm, and as a result, burns calories much more quickly. The colder the water, the harder your body has to work to turn fat stores into energy, when this is coupled with your swim workout, the calorie burn can be increased significantly.

Improve Circulation

When you first jump into the cold water, your body’s automatic reaction is to increase blood flow to surround your vital organs to keep them warm. In turn, this improves circulation and helps flush toxins out of our system, giving our skin a healthy glow! The increased blood flow also helps to flush waste products and reduce muscle inflammation – which is why many athletes choose to have an ice bath after taking part in intense sports.

Strengthens your Immune System

Consistently going for a cold sea swim has been proven to strengthen your immune system as it gives your body a ‘cold water shock’ which kickstarts the immune system through the production of white blood cells. The main function of white blood cells is to fight off any infections, from the common cold to heart disease. Over time, sea swimming will strengthen the immune system and your body will get better at fighting off any viral or bacterial infections. People are more likely to get sick during the winter months as their body isn’t used to the drop in temperature however, cold water swimming will help prepare your body for it.

Improves Mental Health (Swimmers High)

Diving into cold water has proven to release endorphins, also referred to as the ‘happy hormone’. When you immerse yourself in cold water, you feel a stinging sensation on your skin, which your body combats by producing yet more endorphins, which produce a feeling of elation once you get out. The motion of swimming can help reduce anxiety and depression as you tend you focus on your body’s movement. Regular cold water swimming can help us to cope better with different types of stress, as the body starts to learn how to regulate our stress hormones like dopamine.

Improves Quality of Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is extremely important and plays a significant role in your well-being. You might think, how could freezing water possibly help me sleep? The effect of cold water stimulates our parasympathetic nervous system, which helps our body rest and repair, whilst prompting a feeling of calm to help us sleep.

Have we convinced you yet? Whether you are looking to improve your fitness and overall well-being or just want to try something new, why not experience Ballygally Castle’s NEW accommodation package ‘Sea Dips & Hot Sips’? Providing you with everything you need to heat up following your dip in the Sea with the use of dry robes, a hot water bottle, slippers, and a flask filled with a hot drink of your choice.

Discover Hot Sips & Sea Sips here