Imagine you're sitting in a beach chair at the water's edge. Can you feel the sun on your face, smell the salt in the air, and hear the seagulls flocking in the distance? It's relaxing just thinking about it, isn't it?
The whole point of a vacation is to unwind, relax, and rejuvenate. But, a beach vacation in particular has its own healing powers and a special way of renewing body and brain. My recent post, Why You Should Take That Beach Vacation, shares some of the science behind the effects of the ocean on the brain.
If that wasn't enough, I've got one more great reason to get out of the office and spend a day at the beach. Fresh ocean air contains an abundance of negatively charged hydrogen ions that help absorb oxygen and balance out serotonin levels. Ions are microscopic molecules that enter or bodies through our lungs as well as our skin. Positive ions (also called free radicals) are usually carbon dioxide molecules that have been stripped of an electron. Because they desperately want to find an additional electron to stabilize themselves, they steal electrons from healthy cells causing cellular degeneration.
Modern man-made environments have become chronic generators of potentially harmful positive ions. Air conditioners, fluorescent lights, computers, televisions, cell phones, printers, microwave ovens and hair dryers are all potent positive ion generators. Over-exposure to positive ions affects our magnetic field and affect our health and moods in a variety of ways including increased stress, depression, insomnia, and fatigue.
Negatively charged ions are the opposite of positive ions and they have the opposite effect on health, mood and energy levels than positive ions. They neutralize free radicals, revitalize cells, enhance the immune system, purify the blood, and promote deep restful sleep. While the air you breathe in your home or office building may contain just a few hundred and polluted urban areas have even less, natural aquatic environments such as the ocean and waterfalls may contain tens of thousands of negative ions.
So, go ahead... plan that day at the beach. Call it cellular regeneration if you want, but your brain and your body will thank you!
