Living near the ocean and spending time near natural water lowers stress levels, improves skin health, and reduces cardiovascular mortality risk, according to scientific research.
A study published in 2018 by the University of New Brunswick in Canada revealed that people residing near coastal areas face a 12 to 17 percent lower risk of dying from heart or cardiovascular disease compared to those living further inland.
Researchers attributed part of the physical benefit to coastal air quality, which contains fewer pollutants than city environments. Ocean atmosphere provides a cleaner setting that reduces strain on the human respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
Physical health benefits of seawater
Seawater contains all the minerals and trace elements present in human internal fluids, helping to replenish nutritional deficiencies within the body. In addition to balancing internal fluid levels, seawater possesses natural antibiotic properties that help stimulate and strengthen the immune system.
Beyond internal benefits, seawater serves as a natural skincare treatment due to its high concentration of mineral salts. It hydrates the skin, enhances natural radiance, and acts as a deep exfoliator. The salt content removes dead skin cells and resolves minor skin inflammation.
The University of New Brunswick, located in Fredericton, Canada, is a prominent public institution known for health and environmental research. Its 2018 study provided clear statistical evidence connecting coastal environments with long term cardiovascular health benefits.
Mental well being and blue therapy
Spending time near oceans, seas, or lakes also triggers significant psychological benefits through a practice known as blue therapy. Watching the movement of waves and gazing at blue water creates a calming bubble that helps individuals disconnect from negative thoughts.
A report by environmental organization Oceanic Global noted that the color blue has a proven soothing effect on the human brain. Chromotherapy, an alternative health practice that utilizes color wavelengths to influence mood and physical health, shows that blue light frequency guides the brain into a light meditative state.
The auditory frequency of ocean waves produces a similar relaxing effect. The steady rhythm of breaking waves slows cognitive processing and leads the brain into a quasi meditative condition.
Brain response to natural environments
Psychologist Stéphanie Martin explained in New Scientist magazine that natural surroundings allow the brain to achieve true mental disconnection. She noted that city noises are far more stressful because they constantly attack the nervous system.
Martin emphasized that natural environments present fewer sensory stimuli, meaning the brain has less information to process at any given moment. This reduction in cognitive workload leads directly to lower physiological stress levels.
New Scientist is a prominent international science magazine based in the United Kingdom that reports on psychological and environmental research. Martin pointed out that spending time in parks, gardens, and forests offers comparable stress relief by shielding the brain from urban sensory overload.
Forest bathing and ideal living conditions
The psychological impact of blue therapy closely mirrors forest bathing, also known as sylvotherapy. In Japan, forest bathing is officially recognized as a form of preventive medicine and is routinely prescribed by medical doctors to reduce stress levels and enhance mental health.
Sylvotherapy involves spending mindful time under a forest canopy, a practice promoted in Japanese healthcare to lower stress hormones and bolster immune function.
Health experts conclude that the most effective combination for mental and physical well being is residing in an area that combines green spaces with bodies of water. Environments that feature both forests and coastal waters offer the maximum protection against physiological stress.
