Health benefits of being an ocean-centric human

#TheSaltySideOfLife - The Water(wo)men

The ocean plays a significant role in regulating our climate and providing an environment for us to thrive, ranging from producing over half the world’s oxygen and sustaining the largest portion of the earth’s wildlife. It also provides beautiful destinations home to lush ecosystems teeming with wildlife that benefits us. 

Being an ocean-centric human can contribute toward making our oceans more sustainable to ensure they can continue to benefit us and future generations to come. Being ocean-centric means engaging more with the ocean in your day to day, and acting in a way that contributes to long-term ocean sustainability. But did you know that being ocean centric isn’t just great for the environment - it can be incredibly healthy for us too.

Here are some ways:

Ocean-based sports is fantastic for your physical well-being.

If you’re a surfer reading this, you’ll know about what a workout carving waves can be. Ocean-based activities such as swimming, surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, and kayaking provide a great workout for our bodies and minds.

These activities are great cardio workouts, and great for your muscles. The movement of the water can also be therapeutic, helping to ease muscle tension and joint pain. 

In addition to the physical benefits, the ocean can also have a positive impact on our mental health. 

Being in nature has been shown to help reduce stress and anxiety, and the vastness of the ocean can help to promote a sense of peace and tranquillity. Gazing out at the horizon can also be a form of mindfulness, helping us to focus on the present moment and letting go of our worries and concerns.

Numerous studies have shown that people who live near the ocean experience a therapeutic effect and suffer less psychological distress. People intuitively feel more relaxed and at peace by the ocean. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore is thought to be particularly relaxing, and the smell of salt water is known to have a calming effect. 

Sustainable seafood can be a great source of fuel and nutrition.

The ocean provides us a fantastic source of delicious food. Consuming seafood can be a healthy part of a balanced diet. Fish and other seafood are good sources of protein, vitamins and minerals and are low in saturated fat. Eating seafood has been linked with a host of health benefits, including a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. 

It’s important to ensure that seafood consumption is sustainable - caught or farmed in ways that consider the long-term health of harvested species and the health of the ecosystems on which they depend to ensure future generations can continue to enjoy it. 

Make ocean-centric choices. 

Being an ocean-centric human means making choices that benefit the ocean, starting with small changes to your daily life that can not only contribute to ocean sustainability but have far-reaching positive effects for us. While these changes can have direct benefits to our health through more healthy habits, these choices contribute to long-term sustainability which means that we can continue to enjoy our favourite surf spots and preserve ocean ecosystems that we benefit from.

I explore changes you can make that can contribute to keeping our oceans sustainable, labelled the #saltysideoflife. These include making changes to your daily habits to eat, travel, and consume sustainably while prioritising your health. These changes can range from making more sustainable food choices, taking alternative sustainable travel or accommodation, to conscious purchasing of goods such as clothing or furniture.