As it turns out, swimming is also incredibly beneficial for the brain.
Regular swimming has been shown to improve memory, cognitive function, immune response, and mood, explainsDr.
Seena Mathew, a neurobiologist who focuses on brain physiology at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
John Cowan, April 1970
Swimming may also help to repair damage sparked by stress and establish new neuronal connections in the brain.
People have been searching for a fountain of youth for centuries.
Swimming may be the closest thing.
Heres how it works.
These activities are excellent for the cardiorespiratory system as they feed the muscles with oxygen.
And, this is where the brain comes in.
Neural plasticity is stimulated, and with it, cognitive functionsparticularly those linked to memory and learning.
As an added bonus, researchers have also observed benefits for mental health.
Aerobic exercise promotes the release of specific chemical messengers called neurotransmitters, explains Mathew.
What they do know is that you dont have to be an Olympic athlete to reap the benefits.
Astudyon young adults found that even after just 20 minutes of moderate-intensity breaststroke, cognitive functions were improved.
Swimming has been shown tostimulate brain pathwaysthat suppress inflammation in the hippocampus and inhibit apoptosis, or cell death.
This leads to thecreation of new blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis, explains Mathew.
This surge leads to the feeling of euphoria that often follows exercise.
Something to think about next time youre paddling in the ocean or doing laps in the pool.
