Why retiring to the coast is a great move for you health

Choosing the right place to retire can be a daunting, and rather overwhelming, task. Let your health decide for you, by opting for the coastline. Who doesn’t love waking up to the sound of the ocean, taking a deep breath of salty air and feeling the sand between your toes? And your health will thank you too. Here are three reasons why spending your golden years close to the beach is a healthy move to make:

Sleep like a baby

Walking along the beach is not only a beautiful sight to behold, it also has positive effects on your sleep according to research conducted by the UK National Trust’s Eleanor Ratcliffe. In her study, half the participants walked along the seaside, while the other walked inland. The seaside walkers increased their sleep average by 47 minutes, with positive changes found in sleep quality and overall calmness.

Breath in and keep moving

In these times, it has become crucial to maintain optimum health…and breathing in fresh, sea air has a role to play in your overall health. Environmental psychologist, Dr Lewis Elliott, found in his studies that people rate their health better, the closer they are to the coast. He believes this is because going to the beach gives you the opportunity to be physically active which has a strong effect on your mental health. Combine this active lifestyle with the natural, coastal environment and these effects become even stronger.

Let nature heal you

Combining sea water and UVB radiation has been found to improve skin conditions such as dermatitis and psoriasis, according to a study conducted by Germany’s University of Freiburg. This is thanks to the high concentration of minerals including sodium, chloride, sulphate, magnesium and calcium, which are understood to have antiseptic and rehydrating properties.

* Photo: Supplied by Renishaw Hills