Popular health benefits of swimming

The US Census Bureau, in a report announced that some two and a half hours per week of a physical activity, aerobic in nature, quite like swimming can decrease the risk of chronic mental and physical disease. The benefits of swimming are umpteen, apart from being a fun filled recreational activity, swimming is known to have worked wonders with the human body. From making the body aesthetically ‘appealing’ to making the organs like the heart and lungs healthy, swimming does it all! Let us quickly run through some popular health benefits of swimming.

Physical fitness
It is quite well known that swimming helps burn a good amount of calorie, however, that depends on three things- your technique, pace and the basal metabolic rate. If these factors are in place, swimming indeed remains one of the best exercises that helps one reduce weight and tone muscles. Different swimming styles work on different areas of the body. Unlike most of our daily activities (or even other swimming strokes) backstroke helps open chest muscles. It also strengthens the upper back, pulls your shoulders back and helps create better posture. Breaststroke emphasizes the legs and core, while butterfly develops a powerful back, shoulders, arms and core. Both freestyle and backstroke help develop your core as well as strengthen your arms and legs. Swimming also helps use muscles that are usually under worked. While swimming, both the hands and the feet move in coordination and one has to maintain a balance to float on the water, this helps develop the deep stabilizing muscles in the core, lower back, hamstrings, gluts, lats, deltoids and traps.

Improves appetite
Swimming is also known to improve eating disorders. People with no, low or decreased appetite can increase their appetite manifolds by incorporating swimming in their lifestyle.

Healthier organs
Swimming can also help alleviate the symptoms of exercise induced asthma. It also increases vital lung capacity and improves breathing patterns. Studies show that swimming has beneficial effects on the heart as it helps reduce and regulate blood pressure.

Physiotherapy
Swimming is among one of the best therapies to recover from injuries. Swimming ensures minimal injuries and minimal heat exhaustion. It helps recuperate quickly in cases of fractures, frozen shoulders and ligament tear without feeling wear and tear in the body.

Since swimming has all the three elements of physical activities namely endurance, strength and flexibility, it qualifies as one of the best and most effective sport. If you are looking to delay the effects of aging, reduce blood pressure, increase muscle mass, improve oxygen and blood flow to the brain, and increase cardiovascular health, make sure you regularly go for a dip.