Top Ten Benefits of Vitamin SEA
Connecting with nature is essential for our well-being. Whether it’s a walk on the beach, a hike in the woods, or simply sitting outside and taking it all in. There are many ways to connect with and enjoy nature, but one of the things we love the most about what we do is knowing all of us get a solid dose of Vitamin Sea. It’s no wonder people flock to areas like Dana Point, California, the Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World®, to make the most of it and reap the benefits of nature’s healing power.
What do we mean by “vitamin sea”?
Vitamin Sea may sound like the minerals in your morning cup of orange juice, but it is used to describe the various benefits of spending time either on or by the ocean. While it’s not an actual vitamin, this fun phrase calls to mind actual mental, emotional, and even physical advantages of spending time by the seaside. So what are these perks?
1. Mood Boosting
Simply spending time at the beach or by the water can improve mood, reduce feelings of anxiety, and help prevent depression. In addition to the calming vibes of just being outside by the ocean, it’s been proven that being surrounded by blue can help ease your mind and settle any negative feelings or anxiety. Since the sea and sky bring beautiful blue hues, it’s only natural that the calming colors add to your enjoyment and help maximize your mindset. With a mood-boosting dose of Vitamin Sea, you’re almost guaranteed to have a good time out on the water. Not only that, but whale watching is just plain fun. If you want to be sure your spirits are lifted, a day out with Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari is sure to put you in a wonderful mood.
2. Stress Reduction
Calming wave sounds and the rhythmic flow of the ocean can significantly reduce stress levels and promote relaxation. Studies by the University of Exeter have shown that listening to ocean sounds may help reduce stress and create a sense of calm, and research indicates that spending time near “blue spaces,” like oceans and lakes, can enhance overall mental well-being. The sound of pounding surf is one with low frequencies and a rhythmic quality. Like other types of white noise, the sound of natural flowing water engages the parasympathetic nervous system, aiding in relaxation and unwinding. The rhythm signals to our brains that we are in a safe environment, and it releases “feel-good” neurochemicals such as dopamine and oxytocin, which help alleviate stress and encourage feelings of calm happiness. Getting your Vitamin Sea and listening to the ocean’s rhythmic harmony helps guide you to a better and more peaceful state of mind. Being out on the waves and hearing that steady flow of the ocean lapping against the hull is one of our favorite sounds and for good reason!
3. Sleep Improvement
Nothing helps you sleep better than an already calm mind. In addition to boosting your mood and reducing stress, the sea also aids in getting a good night’s sleep. Because the ocean waves have worked their natural magic on your mind, mimicking the same pace as a human’s breathing rate at rest, and both mood and stress are reduced, you’ll have a much easier time relaxing and drifting off into a comfortable sleep. The fresh air and relaxing atmosphere provided by Vitamin Sea can help regulate sleep patterns and promote deeper, more restful sleep. Sleeping better only aids overall health, which can make a huge difference in your quality of life. We hope it helps you sleep sweetly and maybe even leads you to dreams of dolphins and whales splashing through the surf.
4. Vitamin D Exposure
Getting your Vitamin Sea does provide benefits in the form of real vitamins. Sunlight exposure helps in the production of vitamin D, which provides support to a variety of body functions such as creating strong bones, aiding in muscle function and brain cell activity, and ensuring a healthy immune system. Your body can only absorb calcium to support your bones with the help of vitamin D. It also regulates many other cellular functions in your body in anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective ways. The easiest way to acquire vitamin D is through spending time in the sun, and you can gain those stellar benefits just by coming out for a day between sea and sky with us on a dolphin and whale watching adventure. Whether you know how to whale watch like a pro or are just coming out for your first time, you can reap the benefits of Vitamin Sea without too much effort. It’s still a good idea to pack hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen when you’re out, though, as it’s often the case with the sun that too much can be a bad thing.
5. Respiratory Health
Not only does the salty sea air have a distinct and wonderful smell, but it helps you breathe better, too! Because oceanic air typically lacks the pollutants and allergens you find in city settings, the ocean’s salty breeze can help clear nasal passages, which makes for easier breathing. This combination of salt and humidity in the air facilitates clearing the lungs and sinuses and works much in the same way that modern-day nasal sprays do. This aspect of Vitamin Sea can relieve symptoms of respiratory issues like asthma, bronchitis, or allergies just from spending time on or near the ocean. You might not be on the water spouting like a whale, but it will help you take that clear breath in awe when you see marine mammals on board a whale watching tour.
6. Immune System Benefits
There are so many other benefits already adding to your health by being near the ocean, so it should come as no surprise that yet another bonus of going out to the beach, booking a Dana Point whale watching safari, or having fun in the surf is that the previous perks all come together to help boost the immune system. By promoting relaxation and reducing stress, getting more restful sleep, increasing your vitamin D production, and improving your respiratory health, your body’s ability to recover and restore itself will improve in measurable ways. Saltwater even has a range of mineral properties that help healing and recovery. The largest organ is also affected by salt water, and even getting a good splash or spray off the side of a boat can have great effects. Sea water is rich in minerals such as magnesium, chloride, sodium, potassium, iodine, and sulfur, many of which have curative and anti-inflammatory effects on the skin. It’s all thanks to the wonder of Vitamin Sea!
7. Mental Clarity
There’s nothing like a day at the beach to restore your energy and mental acuity, as it clears the mind with meditative sounds and allows your body to breathe deeper. The serenity of ocean sounds and the simple pleasure of just being out in nature help people to focus and think more clearly. Along with the benefits of easier breathing and reduced stress by the sea, exercise, sunlight, and fresh ocean air are all beneficial for your mind and mood. Studies have even shown that spending more time near the sea means a person is less likely to have adverse mental health symptoms. Witnessing nature helps to focus the mind on the bigger picture, allowing some of those small details that might bog down your brain dissipate. Vitamin Sea really can help you focus back in on the things that matter to you.
8. Longevity
Physical and lifestyle activities like walking on the beach, swimming, surfing, or beach volleyball can enhance fitness and strength. Combine those with the awesome properties of being in, around, and looking at the ocean, and you’ve got a dose of Vitamin Sea that can’t be beaten for mind and body improvement. Being active in both mental and physical ways has been proven to increase longevity. Visits to the ocean can help you get into a routine that aids improvement across the board. One unexpected perk of your increased life thanks to the sea may be your marine mammal encounters. Some species of whales and dolphins have long lifespans, so with improved longevity, it’s possible that your visits to the ocean could bring sightings of familiar friends year after year.
9. Creativity
With the stressors of modern living, sometimes it can be hard to tap into the fun or creative outlets. Thankfully, when you spend time close to the ocean reaping the benefits of Vitamin Sea, a lot of the problems that might add stress or tax your time can be relieved or removed. Being able to open up your time and mental space will allow for greater avenues to connect with nature, become inspired, and bloom in new ways. If you’re wondering why it’s important to connect with nature, we can tell you that being on the ocean invites all sorts of creative avenues to be inspired by nature. Taking photos, creating sculptures, writing poems or short stories, or even making jewelry inspired by the ocean are all awesome ways to express your appreciation, and these outlets will improve your life for no other reason than pure enjoyment. We’d love to see what kind of wildlife photography you might take on one of our tours!
10. Happiness
Probably one of the best things about Vitamin Sea is the quality of life improvement given from simply bringing happiness. Fresh sea air has also been shown to be hugely beneficial for our health, charged with negative ions that stimulate our serotonin levels. It’s the happy chemical! Being near the ocean has been shown to increase positive emotions because of the boost to well-being and the soothing effect of nature. Depression is often reduced by the extra vitamin D and with improved health and mood, its only natural that the joy of being seaside would add to your life in wonderful ways.
Another cool thing about the ocean is that you’re unlikely to be there alone. Getting quality time with friends or having fun weekend excursions with your family are amazing ways to get your vitamin sea. We love those moments with your favorite few, and if you want to combine all of these benefits as well as watching whales and dolphins, you can book a private charter to have the opportunity to be able to see wildlife with just your family, friends, or co-workers and make long-lasting lifetime memories without the pressure of meeting new people. It can also be fun to see some new faces, and we love seeing guests return as well as greeting visitors from all over the world on our public trips.
Spending a day out on the water with Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari on a private safari is not only the best way to get outside, get your Vitamin Sea, and enjoy the open air, but it is also a fun way to connect to nature as an ecotourist. Our highly regarded captains and crew always make sure their experience at sea and extensive knowledge of marine life are both entertaining and educational. Whichever way you experience it, spending time near the ocean is like taking a natural, rejuvenating break for the body and mind, so don’t forget to join us for your “vitamin sea”!
Until Next Time,
Jenn Ortiz