Benefits of Swimming - The most Complete Sport

Swimming is definitely one of the most popular sports in the world, with 43 million practitioners in the United States only.

Plus it is a fun activity, has health benefits, and helps you lose weight. Moreover, almost all Latin American countries and Spain have coast, so you can also practice at sea. Here I present the benefits of swimming in women, children and men

Image Source: Wikipedia

Swimming Benefits:

1. Reduces stress and depression

First, any physical exercise releases endorphins, hormones that produce a feeling of well being.
In addition, research has shown that swimming can reverse the damage caused by stress.

2. Improves cardiorespiratory function

Swimming improves the body's resistance. Improving the efficiency of oxygen consumption up to 10% and increases the heart's ability to pump blood up to 18%.

Strengthens the heart and lungs because of the respiratory work done in water, oxygenation and transfer of blood is increased.

3. Developing strength, endurance and flexibility

All sports practiced conveniently provide health benefits and swimming is no exception and in fact is one of the most complete sports there and that enhances strength, endurance and flexibility while preventing injuries and strengthens joints.

4. Do not have an impact on the joints

When swimming, the joints are not impacted like other sports such as tennis or running. In fact, this sport is recommended to treat arthritis for this reason.

5. You can practice lifelong

Because swimming has no impact, it can be practiced throughout life. In fact, there are usually people over 90 years who practice it.

6. Reduce Cholesterol

To stay healthy is good to have in the body high levels of good cholesterol (HDL) and low levels of bad cholesterol (LDL). Swimming can help balance these levels.

7. Improves intelligence

Research from Australia compared a group of children who practiced swimming with another does not. The results showed that children who practiced it were more developed in language skills, motor skills, more confident and physically developed.

Moreover, there is evidence that babies who have been swimming in the first 2 years of life develop greater awareness of the world around them with what they are already learning to be more creative. The water stimulates the child's playing ability and this will impact positively on future learning.

8. Improvement in asthma symptoms

Indoor swimming has the advantage of being able to practice in a humid environment, which can help reduce the symptoms of asthma.

In fact, some studies have shown that swimming can improve the general condition in patients with asthma (snoring, mouth breathing, and lower doctor visits). In any case, it is beneficial for everyone because it increases lung capacity.

9. Reduce the risk of diabetes

One study showed that the risk of diabetes was reduced by 6% with just 30 minutes of swimming three times per week; the risk of developing type 2 diabetes was reduced by 10%.
On the other hand, if you already have type 1 diabetes, aerobic exercise can be helpful as it increases sensitivity to insulin.

10. Increases muscle mass

At 8 months of practicing swimming, it can be seen up to a 23% increase in muscle mass.

11. Improves sleep

According to an American survey of 2013, people who exercise such as swimming are twice as likely to say they have slept well every night or almost every night. They are also less likely to report sleep problems.

12. Burn calories (weight maintenance)

Swimming burn 500-600 calories per hour, depending on the intensity and your fitness. Swimming burns 11% fewer calories than running and 3% fewer calories than cycling.

13. More years of life

Researchers at the University of North Carolina found that people who swam had a mortality rate 50% lower than those who practiced running or who did not exercise. The study was done with 40547 men 20-90 years for 32 years.

14. Combat diseases

Swimming is one of the best sports to combat various bone diseases such as arthritis or osteoarthritis and cardiovascular diseases. It is also good for those who suffer from obesity because our weight in water is up to six times less and knees do not suffer. In addition, swimming can be ideal for pregnant women

15. Benefits in babies

It has various benefits in babies:

Psychomotor development
Help the baby relax
Develops vital survival skills
Strengthening the cardiorespiratory system
Helps the baby feel more secure
Strengthening the immune system
Increases IQ
Improves and strengthens the affective and cognitive relationship between baby-mom-dad.
Socialization starts without traumas in a playful and recreational environment.