Sea air IS really good for you: neuroscientist reveals how time spent on the shore helps you ‘think clearer’ – and why feeling sand between your toes is ‘good for the brain’
The Victorians used to say that sea air has health benefits – and it turns out they were right.
Studies show that inhaling it helps the brain and body produce the chemicals you need to keep you balanced, sane and healthy, it has been revealed.
Dr. Rachel Taylor, a leading neuroscientist, explains: ‘When people breathe sea air, the ions contained in it help [boost] the electrical functionality of the brain by 47 percent and the creation of new nerve pathways, which – simply put – allow you to think more clearly.’
The neuroscientist adds that a trip to the beach can also give you a positive sense of “awe and wonder.”
She explains: ‘The coast is an environment for everyone and is especially great for teenagers who struggle with self-esteem. When you look around you and connect with the environment, you realize that there is something bigger than you.
Experiencing awe and wonder enhances well-being and inspires creativity. The sea air blows away both the mugs and the cobwebs!’
Studies show that just breathing in the sea air helps the brain and body produce the chemicals you need to keep you balanced, sane and healthy (file photo)
The neuroscientist, who teamed up with the outdoor retailer’TOG24to highlight the benefits of coastal walks, notes that it only takes one day at the sea to kick-start this positive process.
Taking a family walk along the coast has even more benefits, notes Dr. Taylor. She says, “Walking in the fresh air increases levels of oxytocin, the hormone within the group. If you feel like you don’t belong or aren’t part of something, you’re not producing oxytocin. A family walk by the sea will release oxytocin and make everyone feel like they belong.’
The sea air isn’t the only mood-boosting aspect of beach walks. During a coastal walk, it is good to direct your gaze upwards, the neuroscientist reveals: ‘When you look at the sky, your eyes send a signal to the brain to wake up. You immediately feel energized.’
Not only that, but Dr. Taylor says that feeling the sand under your feet and between your toes has been scientifically proven to reduce inflammation in the brain and body, and helps connect the earth to the 7,000 nerve endings you live in. you have feet.
For a beach break in Cornwall, consider pretty Pedn Vounder Beach (above) at Land’s End
Scotland is full of fantastic seaside walks – an example is the beautiful Lunan Bay (above), on the Angus coast
To get a dose of sea air, MailOnline Travel recommends heading to Spain’s coastal city of Valencia, which was recently voted Europe’s Best Coastal Destination in a Which? arrangement.
Or explore England’s glorious beaches, with sandy hotspots such as Salcombe North Sands in Devon and Pedn Vounder Beach near Land’s End in Cornwall being two tempting options.
Scotland is also full of fantastic seaside walks – there’s Edinburgh’s Portobello Beach, the beaches of the Isle of Coll in the Inner Hebrides and Lunan Bay, on the Angus coast, to name but a few.
‘TOG24’ have teamed up with well-being app ‘GoJauntly’ to find the best family-friendly coastal walks along the new King Charles III England Coast Path, which will be completed next year and will wind all the way around England’s coast. Go to to download the walks www.tog24.com.