It is not news that physical exercise is beneficial for our brain. It serves a basic principle: what is good for our heart is good for our nervous system with Lifeguard recertification online . But is there any physical activity that offers more benefits than others?
There are many reasons to go to the pool, lake or sea in summer: to make the heat more bearable, to have pleasant moments, to exercise your muscles, etc.
But the best of all is that swimming is one of the most complete exercises to improve our physical and mental health.
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And to convince you to continue reading this article, we are going to reveal a secret. The expression "fountain of youth" can be literal. And the secret is in the water.
Just so you have a preview: Swimming promotes the release of substances in the brain that improve cognition and memory, thanks in part to the fact that it helps establish new brain connections.
It helps our body fight oxidative stress and free radicals, reduces stress levels and improves our immune system. Overall, it improves the mood.
Let's start swimming.
First, the physical benefits of swimming are undeniable. It is a very complete exercise that activates the main muscle groups in the body.
In addition to stimulating the cardiovascular system, the work performed ends up being much greater than in other activities, thanks to the resistance of the water.
Another advantage is that the body, being submerged, receives less physical impact, and ends up being easier to move around.
But physical conditioning is just as important as mental health.
Endorphin discharge
Like good aerobic exercise—one that requires the heart and lungs to work hard to deliver oxygen to the muscles—swimming produces the release of endorphins.
These substances are the brain's natural drug, as they reduce the perception of pain, provide us with pleasure and an immense sense of well-being and happiness.
This is why swimming is so addictive, because secreted endorphins bind to opioid receptors in the brain, which are responsible for functions like sedation, pain reduction, and euphoria.
Don't be scared. Endorphins are not negative at all, quite the opposite.
Among other things, they have been shown to be effective in treating depression. Some studies have even shown that they are much more effective than some antidepressant medications.
In this sense, swimming championship as therapy improves mood and reduces the symptoms of those who suffer from this disorder. This would make it possible to reduce or even eliminate medication in some patients.
Brain training for all ages
In particular, a recent study showed that children between the ages of 6 and 12 are more able to remember vocabulary after swimming for several minutes. This activity therefore appears to enhance memory in people of all ages.
Another of its great virtues is that it stimulates brain function. This was the result achieved after a study carried out with adult swimmers, who, after 20 minutes of swimming, improved this function.
Much of the responsibility for these benefits lies with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a brain growth factor that improves memory and cognition. Because what differentiates swimming from other cardiovascular activities is precisely that it stimulates the release of BDNF.
Relax and disconnect
The reason could be simpler than we think: water. On the one hand, the liquid medium produces relaxation, but, in addition, the rhythmic movement of swimming makes us enter a meditative state.
Added to this is the fact that in the water we can disconnect from the sounds that surround us and hear only our breathing.
The benefits don't stop there. Swimming reduces emotional tension as it lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
It also increases the production of serotonin, one of the happiness hormones that help us fight anxiety, depression and stress.
A brake on cognitive deterioration
The aim of this study was to reproduce in animals what happens in humans when they gain weight as a result of poor diet.
This translates into a deterioration in learning and memory capacity, which is closely related to inflammation of nerve tissue and a decrease in neurotrophic and growth factors in the brain with American Lifeguard VA.