The Benefits of Wild

An icy dip really is so good for you!

Health professionals from all over the world applaud the advantages of cold water swimming, despite the fact that it may first be shocking to the system. Regular dips can have a profoundly positive effect on our mental health in addition to providing the opportunity to get outside, take in some fresh air, and engage in some exercise. Over 4.1 million of us go swimming in ponds, lakes, lochs, rivers, and oceans every year, also known as cold water swimming, open water swimming, or wild swimming, which has become one of the longestrunning health trends in recent years. Although it has always been popular and has been discussed in literature dating back to ancient times, more of us are taking on the challenge now than ever before as we learn about the wonderful health benefits of cold water swimming.

Here are our top 4 reasons why wild swimming can benefit your health as well as being a great way to cool down and get in touch with nature.

1. Improves your Circulation

When your body heats up your blood is brought to the surface and being cold sends it to your organs. Both extremes get your blood pumping. That’s why the whole sit in the sauna, roll in the snow, sit in the sauna thing makes people glow.

This increase in blood being pumped around your body helps flush your circulation, it will exfoliate your skin and flush impurities from it, thus helping your complexion. Evidence also demonstrates that your body adapts to the cold with repeated exposure, and this may improve your circulation.

2. Lose weight

Swimming is great exercise no matter where you do it, but you will get some extra benefits doing it in the North Sea that you just won’t get from a warm wade in the Med.

Swimming in cold water will make your body work twice as hard to keep you warm and burn more calories in the process.

3. Benefits to your immune system

While diving into freezing water feels like you are closer to having a heart attack than having fun it turns out that this feeling of shock can actually boost your immune system.

Research has shown that when people regularly swim in cold water their white blood cell count increases significantly and the immune system is invigorated.

4. Release endorphins

Winter swimmers talk a lot about the ‘high’ they get from cold water. The cause? Endorphins.

Endorphins are the body’s natural pain killers, and, in the case of a cold dip, it uses them to take the sting away from your skin.