The imagery of tan, blonde-haired, lean blokes slowly coming out of the water, while holding a plastic surfboard surely pops to mind when hearing the word 'surf.'
Before jumping head-on into this sport, I assumed that surfing is just for the 'cool kids' and hippies. It has never crossed my mind that I would grow to love it as much as I do now. Just like a famous quote said, "If you never try, then you will never know."
With that being said, here are five reasons why you should start surfing.
It improves physical health
Most surf sessions last at least an hour or even more. Spending up to four hours in the water is not a rare occasion. Depending on the weather conditions of that session, you may or may not be required to constantly paddle to escape the incoming waves before choosing the right wave for you. Regardless, surfing has been proven to be one of the more intense cardiovascular workouts that can prevent heart disease and obesity.
2. Supports Mental Clarity
To begin with, being in the middle of the vast ocean allows people to connect and become one with something greater than themselves. It makes the various, mundane life problems seem small and fleeting. Also, the unpredictable nature of the waves forces surfers to be present in the moment and focus solely on paddling and getting a good ride, which allows them to escape from thinking about any negative feelings. Saltwater pumps out negative ions, which allows the retention of serotonin and other feel-good chemicals in human brains.
3. Strengthens the Immune System
After spending time in the ocean, the red blood cell count inside the human body increases from 5% to upwards of 20%. Similarly, the white blood cell count increases even more. This is all thanks to the high amount of magnesium and other minerals found naturally in the water.
4. Soaks You Up with Vitamin D
As a watersport that is constantly under the heat of the sun, which is the best source of vitamin D known to man, there will be no shortage of access to it. Regular exposure to vitamin D maintains bones, teeth, and muscles healthy. Other than that, it also aids in the prevention of bone and immune system diseases.
5. No Tan Oils Necessary
Spending hours under the bright, hot sun is a surefire way to get some tan on without the hustle. Gone are the days when you have to strategically apply skin products to bake a tan. Most times, you will be overly sunburnt rather than not getting enough sun exposure.
After having a skim through this article, hopefully, you would grow to be at least slightly more interested in surfing. So... surf's up?
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