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Living close to water is an investment in happiness and mental health, not just a way of life
People throughout the world have acknowledged the healing properties of water throughout history.
Whether it’s the calm flow of rivers, the peacefulness of a lake, or the rhythmic waves of the ocean, water has always captured people’s minds. Although people have always found comfort and renewal near water, science now offers strong evidence for this association. However, according to recent studies, living next to a body of water may not only make you feel more relaxed and at peace, but it may also hold the key to living a long and healthy life.
People throughout the world have acknowledged the healing properties of water throughout history. While the Japanese continued to use misogi, the traditional water-washing technique, the Greeks looked for natural springs to heal their bodies and minds. According to the Daily Mail, recent research indicates that the more water present in the home, the less mental degeneration occurs.
In the UK, middle-aged and older persons who live close to lakes, rivers, or the sean ‘blue spaces’ are less likely to have age-related mental decline, according to a study published in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. According to memory and response time assessments, their risk of cognitive deterioration was 13.2 percent lower.
Memory, response times, and verbal and numerical thinking were assessed in 35,669 men and women whose test results were matched with their home addresses and proximity to lakes, rivers, or the sea in the UK Biobank database. For every address, the amount of air pollution exposure was estimated.
In addition, the researchers considered a number of variables, including blood pressure, diet, drinking patterns, age, education, and weight. According to the researchers, humid air near vast bodies of water may reduce air pollution, which has been connected to mental loss as people age.
When air pollution was high, the effect was considerably more noticeable. A 10 percent increase in blue space within 300 meters of the home was linked to a 26.2 percent improvement in cognitive test performance during the peak particulate matter levels.
Living close to water is an investment in happiness and mental health, not just a way of life. Adopting water is a step towards a happier, healthier life, whether it is through close proximity or frequent trips. A straightforward yet effective cure for the busy mind is to visit the closest blue area the next time you’re feeling overburdened or need a mental reset.
