Why Swimming Is Good For You

Swimming isn't an easy sport, but it is incredibly rewarding. Swimming has numerous health benefits, even more mindset alterations, and is an excellent stress reliever.

This sport really stands out to people that want to improve on their bodily and mind health.

Swimming is so good for you that researchers share it may even reduce your risk of death. Compared with inactive people, swimmers have about half the risk of death.

(Source: CDC)

Swimming torches calories.

Swimming burns calories like no other sport. A 160-pound person burns around 423 calories an hour while swimming laps at a low or moderate pace, and 715 calories an hour swimming swimming more vigorously.

That same 160-pound person would only burn around 314 calories walking at 3.5 miles per hour for 60 minutes. Yoga might burn just 183 calories per hour. And the elliptical trainer might burn just 365 calories in that hour.

Swimming improves your quality of life.

Swimming improves your sleep.

In a study on older adults with insomnia, participants reported both a boost in quality of life and sleep after engaging in regular aerobic exercise. (Source: PubMed Central) Swimming is accessible to a wide range of people who deal with physical issues that make other exercises, like running, less appealing. That can make swimming a good choice for older adults looking to improve their sleep.

Swimming boosts your mood.

Researchers evaluated a small group of people with dementia, and saw an improvement in mood after participating in a 12-week aquatic program. (Source: PubMed Central) Swimming and aquatic workouts aren’t just psychologically beneficial for people with dementia. Exercise is proven to boost other people's moods as well.

Swimming helps manage stress.

Researchers surveyed a group of swimmers immediately before and after swimming at a YMCA in New Taipei City, Taiwan. (Source: kheljournal) Of the 101 people surveyed, 44 reported being mildly depressed and feeling stress related to fast-paced life. After swimming, the number of people who still reported feeling stressed decreased to just 8. The researchers concluded that swimming is a potentially powerful way to relieve stress quickly.

Swimming is good for people with pregnancy, medical conditions or injuries.

Swimming can be a safe exercise option for people with pregnancy, arthritis, several types of injury, disability, asthma, multiple sclerosis, or other issues that make high-impact exercises difficult. Swimming could even help reduce some of your pain or improve your recovery from an injury.

Pregnant women and their babies reap some wonderful rewards from swimming. In one study in animals, a mother rat’s swimming was shown to alter the brain development in her offspring (Source: Nature). Aside from potential benefits to the child, swimming is an activity that can be performed in all three trimesters. A study shows that there are no harmful effects of swimming in chlorinated pools while pregnant (Source: PubMed Central). In fact, pregnant women that swam during their early to mid-pregnancy had a lower risk of preterm labor and congenital defects. Talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise programs during pregnancy, and if you have complications, ask about activities that are safe.

Since swimming pools create a humid environment, and the numerous breathing exercises associated with the sport, like holding your breath helps expand your lung capacity and gain back control over your breathing, this sport has numerous benefits for people with asthma (Source: PubMed Central).

Swimming benefits people with multiple sclerosis because water makes the limbs buoyant, helping to support them during exercise, and water also provides gentle resistance.

Swimming gives every part of your body a workout.