Top Benefits of Swimming! Bonus Fitness Swimsuit Picks!                      

Let’s go for a swim! I recently experienced a fluke knee injury while running. As a result of limited mobility, I began exploring alternative means of exercising and staying fit during my recovery. While exploring a plethora of workout options, I started tapping into all sorts of informational resources, swimming consistently popped up as one of the best means of exercising for individuals with or without injuries. Overall, it was one of the most highly recommended full body forms of exercising. I’ve been trying it during my knee rehab., for the past week and I love it! Check out some of the helpful information I found- even looked into fitness swimwear and discovered some awesome suits, that are not only adorable, but extremely functional and practical as well. After all, who said you can’t look and feel fabulous while taking to the water?

“Swimming is a good, whole-body (aerobic) exercise that has low impact,” says Robert A. Robergs, director of the exercise physiology lab at the University of New Mexico. 

What are the benefits of swimming?

1. It is Anti-Aging
Well, it might not help with wrinkles but swimming does decrease the risk of dying by nearly 50% according to a study conducted by Dr. Steven Blair at the University of South Carolina. The 32-year study that followed 40,000 men discovered that swimmers have the lowest death rate over runners, walkers and especially men who were sedentary.
2. Improves Flexibility
Water is great for improving flexibility. Swimming can increase your range of motion without causing stress on the body’s joints. The support of the water should help you maintain positions involving tricky balance, for longer periods of time.
3. Improves Asthma Symptoms
 Swimming will strengthen your lung capacity, which can improve asthma symptoms. Studies have proven that it is highly effective in reducing asthma related symptoms and complications. 
4. Lowers Diabetes Risk
Aerobic exercise, especially swimming, can lower one’s risk of diabetes.A University of Maryland study found that aerobic exercise and resistance training, alone or in combination, improves blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes.  
5. Lowers Heart Disease Risk 
Swimming is an aerobic exercise, it serves to strengthen the heart, not only helping it to become larger, but making it more efficient in pumping — which leads to better blood flow throughout your body. 
American Heart Association reports that just 30 minutes of exercise per day, such as swimming, can reduce coronary heart disease in women by 30 to 40 percent. 
5. Boosts Mental Health
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends water-based exercise for improving mood and reducing anxiety levels. During swimming, the body releases endorphins, the body’s feel-good neurochemicals, plus also can evoke a relaxation response the same way as yoga does. Swimming can also be a meditative exercise, since while you are underwater, you tend to “drown out” distractions.
6. It Can Help You Lose Weight
Swimming is now recognized as one of the biggest calorie burners around, and it’s great for keeping weight under control.The exact number of calories you burn depends upon your own physiology and the intensity of workout.
7. Lowers Chance of Injury more than Other Activities
Swimming has been shown to improve bone strength and muscle tone. It also improve joints and alleviate muscle stiffness. It’s  great form of strength training with less strain on your body. It is also proven to be good for people of all athletic ability levels.

Sources: 
American Heart Association
Women’s Health Magazine
The United States Water Fitness Association

Image courtesy of Women’s Health Magazine

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