The benefits of swimming in sea water. Sea air - benefits, harms and the best resorts

Often, the sailors of ships that were wrecked or lost in sea waters died of thirst. But few people know why this is so, because there is a lot of water around.

The thing is that sea water is saturated with such a composition that it is not suitable for the human body and does not quench thirst. In addition, sea water has a specific taste, bitter-salty and is not suitable for drinking. This is all because of the salts dissolved in it. Let's see how they got there.

What makes water taste salty

Salt is crystalline. Ocean waters contain almost all the elements of the periodic table. Hydrogen and oxygen combine to form water molecules. It also contains impurities of fluorine, iodine, calcium, sulfur and bromine. The mineral base of sea water is dominated by chlorine and sodium (ordinary salt). This is why the water in the sea is salty. It remains to be seen how the salts get into this water.

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Rivers - interesting facts

How sea water was formed

Scientists have been conducting experiments for a long time and trying to find out why sea water is salty and river water is fresh. There are several theories for the formation of salty sea water.

It turns out that the water in rivers and lakes is also salty. But the salt content in them is so small that it is almost imperceptible. According to the first theory, river waters, falling into the seas and oceans, evaporate, while salts and minerals remain. Because of this, their concentration increases all the time and the water in the sea and ocean becomes salty.

According to scientists, the process of salinization of the seas takes place over a billion years. But contrary to the first theory, it has been proven that the waters in the oceans do not change their chemical composition for a long time. And those elements that come with river water only support the oceanic composition, but do not change it in any way. This leads to another theory. Salt has a crystalline consistency. Waves crashing against the shore wash the rocks. They form holes. When the water evaporates, salt crystals remain in these wells. When the rock breaks, the salt gets back into the water and it becomes salty.

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How is salt mined?

Consequence of volcanic activity

Scientists have concluded that the water in the seas was salty even in those days when mankind did not exist on the planet. And the reason for this was volcanoes. The earth's crust has been formed by magma ejection over the years. And the composition of volcanic gases contains chemical combinations of chlorine, fluorine and bromine. They fell into the ocean waters in the form of acid rain and initially the water in the ocean was acidic. This water broke apart the crystalline rocks of the earth's crust, and extracted magnesium, potassium and calcium. These acids began to form salts as a result of the reaction with solid earthen rocks. Few people know that the salt familiar to us was formed as a result of the reaction of perchloric acid from the ocean and sodium ions from volcanic rocks.

Sea water is both healing and cosmetic. If you want to get healthy, lose weight and become unusually prettier - pack - and go to the sea!

From all diseases

Warm waves, bright sun, air filled with exotic aromas, an incomparable starry sky, which happens only in the south, as well as almost obligatory novels and romance - what else is needed for happiness? Truly, the sea heals not only the body, but also the soul. Tell me, where else can you combine treatment with passion so successfully?

Waves give the skin the effect of a light massage, enrich the body with oxygen, improve the functioning of blood vessels, and lower blood pressure. Therefore, moderate sea bathing is recommended by cardiologists.

The water of the seas and oceans normalizes thermoregulation, increases vitality, has a hardening effect, strengthens the body's defenses. And yet - it improves blood circulation, increases the number of red blood cells and normalizes the heart rhythm, due to which sea baths are prescribed to their elderly geriatric patients.

Salt waters supply the body with negative ions that neutralize the excess of harmful positive ions that city dwellers accumulate in the stone jungle. Thanks to this, the sea has an anti-stress effect, which is well known to neuropathologists.

And the sea also gives us a huge amount of useful substances that normalize metabolic processes and have a beneficial effect on the endocrine system and hypothalamus. Iodine, which is rich in sea water, activates the brain, improves memory, improves the functioning of the thyroid gland. Any person suffering from chronic ENT diseases and frequent colds is always advised by doctors to go to the sea.

In addition to swimming, gargling and rinsing the nose with sea water heated to 37 ° C will not interfere. Dentists also advise rinsing your mouth with this useful liquid: real sea water contains much more healing substances than the best toothpaste with sea minerals, and the oxygen contained in the water contributes to the natural whitening of a smile. True, before gargling with sea water, you need to make sure that it is clean.

The consequences of injuries, as well as rheumatic ailments, are also more successfully treated in combination with sea bathing. And the sea heals the nerves and cleanses the skin, helps with eczema and psoriasis.

From sea foam

The composition of sea water includes iodine, calcium, potassium, silicon, sodium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, iron, nickel, copper, arsenic, oxygen, nitrogen, neon, helium and many other elements. We absorb all this wealth through pores and capillaries. The richer and more concentrated the salt composition of sea water, the more intensively the skin is nourished.

According to thalassotherapy, the skin can get the maximum of useful substances from water heated to 37 ° C, but even after bathing in ordinary sea water with an average temperature of 20–25 ° C, the beneficial effect is preserved. Saturated with minerals and salts, the skin becomes more elastic and elastic, puffiness decreases. Sea water is especially useful for problem skin: it washes off microbes, excess fat from its surface, and exfoliates the stratum corneum.

Salt water sharpens not only stones, but also sharpens our figures. A high concentration of nutrients helps to intensively remove toxins from the body. In addition, the waves produce a light “anti-cellulite” body massage, and if you combine swimming with sports games on the water or just swim vigorously, the orange peel will melt before your eyes. By the way, iodine, which is rich in marine microorganisms, additionally burns fat deposits in problem areas.

Regular bathing in the sea will replace you with nourishing nail baths and hair masks. After relaxing by the sea, your manicure will be flawless, and your hair will become thicker and more beautiful (of course, if you protect your hair from the sun). In general, you will return from vacation rejuvenated and prettier. Just be sure to follow certain rules.

Six rules of the sea

• Before entering the water, spend 10 minutes in the shade to avoid a sharp temperature contrast between water and air.
• Upon arrival at the resort, the first days it is better to swim once a day. Then the number of sea baths can be increased up to 2-3 times a day with intervals between baths of at least half an hour.
• Don't sit in the water until you're blue in the face. Hypothermia can provoke a cold, bronchitis, cystitis, exacerbation of chronic sores. If you are still cold, urgently go ashore and vigorously rub yourself with a terry towel.
• Do not swim immediately after eating - it harms digestion, and do not swim on an empty stomach. This can cause weakness and tachycardia.
• After leaving the sea, do not rush to take a shower - let the skin absorb useful substances.
• If being in the sea is contraindicated for health reasons, just douse yourself with sea water or do foot baths.

By the way

The term "thalassotherapy" (treatment by the sea) was introduced by the German physician Friedrich Wilhelm von Halem in the 18th century. Around the same time, the English physiologist Richard Russell published a book on the healing properties of sea water. Since then, doctors began to prescribe sea bathing to their patients, like a potion.

At the same time, for the first time, there was a demand for the services of swimming teachers, because before that only sailors were able to swim. Since then, Europe has taken to swimming massively. The first one-piece bathing suits, which appeared a little over a century ago, contributed to the development of the swimming fashion. And the first seaside resorts appeared only in the 19th century.

Hippocrates knew about the benefits of sea water. Outwardly, he suggested using it to heal wounds, cracks and bruises, as well as to treat scabies and lichen. He prescribed sea bathing for everyone suffering from nervous diseases and pain in the joints. Steam from sea water recommended to treat headaches, and the water itself (when taken orally) used as a laxative.

Unfortunately, sea water cannot be transported: the healing microorganisms that live in it die after 48 minutes. Therefore, without delaying the matter, get ready for the real blue sea. However, before buying a ticket to the resort, consult your doctor.

The sea and the sun can be dangerous for patients with heart disease, hypertensive patients, cancer patients, people suffering from infectious diseases, allergies to iodine, as well as some skin and especially fungal diseases. To determine the presence of an allergy to iodine, take a special test. With hyperfunction of the thyroid gland, rest in seaside resorts is also not recommended.

Which beaches are the best–sandy or pebbly?

It is useful to walk barefoot on pebbles - to stimulate active points on the soles that are associated with all internal organs. Walk in zigzags: water - land, cool sea - hot stones - perfect hardening. You can lie down in the shade and apply hot stones to your lower back. The procedure is called stone therapy.

And it's nice to burrow into the sand. Leave only the heart area open. Spending 15-20 minutes in hot sand is useful for osteochondrosis, joint problems, prostatitis and gynecological diseases.

Our expert - general practitioner Irina Vechnaya.

For the nose and joints

Let's figure out what diseases can be cured with the help of sea bathing.

Runny nose, sinusitis, chronic rhinitis. Rinsing the nose with salt water instantly makes breathing easier. Sea water, getting on the nasal mucosa, evaporates, taking with it excess moisture, and thereby relieves swelling. Approximately the same effect can be achieved with nasal drops, only in the case of drops, mucosal edema is reduced due to vasoconstriction. But unlike drops, sea water acts softer and is not addictive.

Bronchopulmonary diseases. Calcium, sulfur and other minerals dissolved in seawater give it anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Just keep in mind, for those who want to improve the health of the respiratory system, it is better to choose resorts with dry air - the Mediterranean Sea, Crimea.

Relieves stress. This is facilitated by compounds of iodine and bromine, which are saturated with sea water. In addition, there is a lot of magnesium in sea water, which is necessary for the smooth functioning of the nervous system. Sunbathing only enhances the anti-stress effect of sea water. After all, seasonal mood disorders often arise from a lack of vitamin D, which is produced in the body under the influence of sunlight.

Skin diseases. Eczema, psoriasis, neurodermatitis and acne can also be cured at sea. Salt water slightly dries the skin, eliminates inflammation and accelerates tissue regeneration.

Excess weight. Sea water activates metabolic processes, stimulates blood circulation and removes excess fluid. In order for the weight loss effect to be most significant, it is better to bathe in cool water.

Cardiovascular diseases. Any bathing trains blood vessels and the heart muscle due to temperature differences. But sea water, unlike fresh water, contains potassium - the main element for the health of the cardiovascular system.

Diseases of the teeth and gums. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, sea water maintains healthy gums, calcium dissolved in it strengthens tooth enamel, and salt particles reduce plaque deposits.

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Sea water eliminates inflammation and swelling of the joints, improves blood circulation in the joint and strengthens the bones.

Bathing rules

For sea water to be beneficial, you need to follow some simple rules.

Try not to overcool. For the water to work, it is enough to spend 10-15 minutes in it.

Do not run to the shower immediately after bathing. Let the salt and beneficial elements remain on the skin for 15 minutes. But after that, a shower is required. After all, sea water has the ability to remove toxins from the body (usually through the pores of the skin and sweat glands), which must be washed off. In addition, salt water takes away natural moisture from the surface of the skin, and this leads to the appearance of wrinkles and increases the likelihood of sunburn.

Do not use water near the shore for rinsing and washing. It is often contaminated. The purest water is at a depth of 2 meters. So you have to dive for it. If you don't know how, at least swim away from the shore for some distance.

Don't bathe immediately after eating. This can lead to digestive problems.

Where are we going?

Black Sea

Rest is useful for people with diseases of the respiratory system (bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, lung disease).

Sea of ​​Azov

Relieves stress, treats skin diseases, improves lung function, lowers blood pressure. Swimming in windy weather is especially useful - the surf raises healing silt from the bottom of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov.

Baltic Sea

It is useful for heart patients, hypertensive patients, overweight people and weakened immune systems.

Mediterranean Sea

Improves lung function, fights bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, strengthens the heart and relieves stress.

Red sea

Useful for skin diseases, stress and metabolic disorders.

Dead Sea

It treats eczema and psoriasis, due to the presence of therapeutic mud, it is recommended for people with sore joints.

4 naive questions

Is it possible to bring sea water with you and be treated at home?

Alas, sea water loses most of its useful resources in just a day. So stocking up is not possible. For the same reason, swimming in the sea is healthier than swimming in a pool of sea water.

Is it possible to prepare sea water from improvised means?

Boil a glass of water, then cool to a temperature of 37 degrees, pour in a teaspoon of sea salt, wait until the salt dissolves, add a drop of iodine and strain the solution through cheesecloth. Get water close to sea. However, natural water from the sea is still more useful, because in addition to salt and iodine, it contains other macro- and microelements, as well as beneficial microorganisms.

Which water is healthier - warm or cold?

The optimum water temperature for swimming is 20-24 degrees. Colder water can cause colds or cystitis, and microbes begin to multiply in too warm sea water.

Can you drink sea water?

No, the removal of salts and minerals contained in sea water takes more liquid than is contained in salt water. Therefore, the use of sea water inside for more than 5-7 days in a row leads to dehydration.

Most of our planet is covered with water. The body of man and animals consists almost entirely of it. Therefore, it is not surprising that water plays a leading role in the life of the creatures inhabiting the Earth. In our material, I would like to talk about what thalassotherapy is, what are the benefits and harms of swimming in sea water, how rest near the coast affects the state of the human body.

A few words about thalassotherapy

The concept of thalassotherapy was introduced by the famous German therapist Friedrich von Halem. The results of research on the benefits of swimming in the sea were presented to the public by a specialist back in the 18th century. A little later, the British physiologist Richard Russell wrote a treatise on the healing properties of salt water. Since that time, doctors began to consider swimming in the sea as an effective therapy for a wide variety of ailments.

Thanks to the expansion of knowledge in the field of thalassotherapy, the demand for the services of instructors who introduced the population to the secrets of keeping on the water increased markedly. After all, a few centuries ago, mainly sailors knew how to swim. Since the rest of the population simply did not see practical application in such a skill.

With the advent of the doctrine of thalassotherapy, many Europeans began to regularly visit the sea coast for recreation. The first coastal resorts began to emerge at the end of the 19th century. In the same period, bathing suits were invented, the fashion for which contributed to the introduction of people to swimming in the healing salt water.

In fact, the benefits of sea water for humans were noted in the treatises of the ancient Greek scientist, physician and philosopher Hippocrates. It was he who first suggested using it for the purpose of healing wounds, eliminating bruises, as well as treating skin diseases, in particular, lichen and scabies. In those gray days, the benefits of sea water for joints were already known. It was believed that rest near the coast helps to eliminate the ailments of the nervous system. Sea water is often used as a laxative. She also treated headaches.

Composition of sea water

What are the benefits of sea water? A beneficial effect on the human body is due to its special mineral composition. Sea water contains the following substances:

1. Mineral salts - contribute to the accelerated outflow of fluids from body tissues, accelerate metabolic processes in the body.
2. Calcium - has a positive effect on the state of the nervous system, eliminates depressive states, drives away insomnia, makes it possible to get rid of convulsive conditions, osteoporosis.
3. Magnesium - prevents allergic manifestations, relieves nervousness and irritability.
4. Potassium - normalizes blood pressure, prevents the occurrence of hypertensive conditions, relieves tissues from swelling.
5. Iodine is an essential element for the normal functioning of the thyroid gland. The trace element has a positive effect on intellectual activity.
6. Iron - takes part in the formation of red blood cells, oxygen enrichment of body cells.
7. Silicon - improves the condition of the skin, increasing its firmness and elasticity.
8. Selenium - prevents the formation of pathological cells in tissues.
9. Sulfur - disinfects the skin, effectively fights the development of all kinds of fungal manifestations.

Who benefits from swimming in the sea?

As modern studies show, the benefits of sea water for the body are, first of all, in the development of positive dynamics for the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Bathing in disperse the blood, saturate the body fluids with minerals and enrich the tissues with oxygen. For this reason, relaxing at sea is recommended for people who suffer from heart ailments, have problems with pathological jumps in blood pressure.

The benefits of sea water is the accelerated renewal of the cells of the human body. Bathing in it is recommended for people who have failures of metabolic processes in the body. Visiting sea resorts makes it possible to strengthen the immune system, calm the nervous system, and improve skin condition.

Of particular benefit is bathing in the sea for pregnant women, persons who are at the stage of rehabilitation after serious illnesses. After all, the sea is a real storehouse of minerals that are required for normal life and restoration of the body.

Sea air

A visit brings considerable benefits to the organs of the respiratory system and has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin. Staying under the sun helps open the pores of the epidermis. Thus, trace elements that are in the air are literally absorbed into the skin. It also contains negatively charged ions, volatile phytoncides, which are released from vegetation.

Evaporation of sea water, rich in salts and iodine, has a positive effect on the condition of the lungs. The tissues of the respiratory tract are gradually softened and cleared. That's why it's so easy to breathe on the coast. Moisture-saturated air constantly moisturizes the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx, which helps to retain dust particles and prevents the penetration of pathological microbes into the body.

Sea water - benefits for weight loss

Bathing in salt water makes it possible to get a beautiful figure, make the body more attractive and toned. The high concentration of mineral salts and useful elements contributes to the rapid removal of toxins from the body. The impact of waves on the body is something akin to an anti-cellulite massage. If regular bathing is combined with activity on the shore, the fats in the tissues of the body melt before our eyes. The benefits of sea water for the human body in this case also lies in its iodized composition. It is this substance that burns excess fat reserves in problem areas.

Strengthening gums and teeth

The benefits of sea water, in addition to all of the above, is to strengthen the teeth and gums. The presence of concentrated calcium and bromine in such a salty liquid seems to be a good solution for its use in rinsing the mouth. However, it is recommended to use only pharmaceutical sea water for these purposes. It is not worth rinsing your teeth and gums directly off the coast. Indeed, in such water, in addition to useful elements, there are many pathological microorganisms.

Wound healing

Sea water is known for its healing effect. Bathing in it looks like a good solution for people who have all kinds of abrasions, cuts, insect bite marks on their bodies. The concentrated mineral salts contained in such a liquid act like an antibiotic, disinfecting wounds. Thus, swimming in the sea leads to their speedy healing.

Features of swimming in different seas

It is useful to rest absolutely at any coast. At the same time, being near a particular sea has its own characteristics:

1. The Black Sea - a positive effect for the body due to the abundance of oxygen in the coastal space, a moderate amount of mineral salts in the water. Coniferous vegetation on the coast saturates the air with negatively charged ions and phytoncides, which have a calming effect on the nervous system.
2. Sea of ​​Azov - is considered one of the most useful in the world. Its waters contain an abundance of iodine, hydrogen sulfide and bromine. Such elements are involved in the normalization of metabolic processes. The presence of healing mud in combination with moderately humid steppe air makes the Sea of ​​Azov a real hospital.
3. The Baltic Sea is one of the coolest waters in the world. Therefore, the place looks ideal for people who decide to join the hardening of the body. The combination of substances that are released from pine wood with mineral salts helps to improve immunity.
4. Dead Sea - waters contain the highest concentration of mineral salts. This composition activates metabolic processes in the body, improves blood circulation, and has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin.

What is good and dangerous sea water? The benefits and harms of bathing in it are considered below:

1. Before entering the sea, it is advisable to spend about 10-15 minutes on the shore, being in the shade. This approach will avoid a shock state for the body due to temperature contrast.
2. Arriving at the resort, for several days it is recommended to swim only once a day. Over time, it is worth increasing the number of sea baths to two or three. At the same time, it is better that the breaks between bathing are at least half an hour.
3. You should not linger in the sea until you are blue in the face. Hypothermia leads to a decrease in the protective functions of the body and, as a result, the development of colds, cystitis, bronchitis, and other ailments. To prevent this from happening, upon exiting the water, vigorously rub the body with a towel.
4. Harm to health causes swimming in the sea immediately after eating. However, you should not be too active in water on an empty stomach. After all, with such behavior, long-distance swims can lead to the development of tachycardia and a feeling of general malaise.
5. When leaving the water, it is better to stand on the shore for a few minutes, and not immediately run into the shower. Only in this way the skin will absorb the beneficial substances that are contained in the sea.
6. Those for whom swimming and being in cool water are contraindicated due to poor health will benefit from douches and foot baths.

In contact with

Composition of sea water

To find out why salty sea, need to understand the composition of sea water. It contains almost the entire periodic table. The liquid is saturated with iodine, fluorine, bromine.

But the basis of the composition are chlorine and sodium. Sodium chloride is just common salt. This is what makes the water salty.

But such a solution brings great benefits to the skin. Through them, salty water has a beneficial effect on the human body as a whole.

Where does the salt in the sea come from?

Why is sea water salty?

Conclusion

Thus, sea water is salty due to several factors. All hypotheses are scientifically substantiated and true. And although fresh rivers flow into the seas, this does not in any way lower their salinity level. Its degree depends on several factors. Depth plays a key role and temperature. The Baltic is considered the least saline, and the Red Sea has the highest degree of salinity.