5 Health Benefits of Walking the Beach Every Day

Nothing beats a day at the beach — the sun’s rays warming your skin, the ocean breezes blowing through your hair, the cool water enveloping your feet, the salty aroma, the sounds of the waves crashing and the seagulls squawking. If you’re lucky enough to visit the beautiful beaches along California’s southern coast, you should take advantage of the many relaxing things to do in San Diego. One excellent activity for your body and mind is walking a stretch of the beach each day. It’s a perfect way to burn off some of those excess calories from dining out on rich food and drinking fruity cocktails. It also gives you a chance to explore the area while experiencing the nearly perfect weather and viewing the stunning scenery. As if those benefits aren’t enough, there are even more rewards to walking the beach every day.

It Exfoliates Your Feet

Even the softest beach sand is relatively coarse, so your feet are getting some natural exfoliation as you stroll along the beach. Moist sand is perfect for this. To give your feet a little more love, after giving them a rinse, apply a coat of moisturizer.

It Relaxes You

Even when you’re working out, just the fact that you’re on the beach can be very relaxing. Whether walking, jogging or simply sunning yourself, it’s an excellent time to practice mindful meditation. Allow yourself to be only in the moment. Don’t think about what’s to come in the future or what happened in the past. Keep your mind focused on everything you’re sensing in the present.

Another wonderful time for mindfulness is participating in a whale-watching ocean adventure. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment when you’re observing different kinds of whales navigating their natural habitat.

It Exercises Your Calves and Feet

Walking in the sand, especially the dry sand, will give your calves and feet an excellent workout. You’ll have to use more muscles to propel yourself through the soft ground as your feet sink in with each step. If you’re used to walking on a hard surface like asphalt, you’ll notice a significant difference as you’re walking in the sand.

It Burns Extra Calories

Besides being more fun and relaxing than walking on a track or sidewalk, walking on a sandy beach can burn up to 50% more calories. You’re not only dealing with the sand’s resistance with each step, half of your walk will be moving against the wind, making your workout even more strenuous.

It Grounds You

It’s believed that you can increase the balance between your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems by walking barefoot on natural ground. The earth is electron-rich, which is especially helpful when it’s humid or wet and can also assist in reducing inflammation.

Do you and your family love nature and animals? If you do, and you want to have a coastal experience of a lifetime, setting sail on an expedition for blue whale watching San Diego could be the perfect activity. Research online for a reputable whale-watching tour company and add another fun layer to your beach vacation.