The Health Benefits of Living by a Freshwater Lake
The highly urbanized and overcrowded cities that we now dwell in are not how nature intended for us to live. The lack of living spaces in cities and the needs of the modern lifestyles have crammed most of the population into high rise buildings or smaller living spaces. Modern housing solutions lack the natural elements that our bodies and minds crave for a healthy life.
One of the major problems of living in an urban dwelling is that it’s far away from bodies of fresh water. Living by a body of fresh water such as on a lake house offers immense health benefits to you and your loved ones. There has been increased research on these benefits and doctors are increasingly backing the assertion that there are substantial health benefits associated with living close to bodies of freshwater. What’s more, in addition to the health benefits, there are also other attractions of living by lakes.
Let’s look at some of the health benefits that living by a lake holds for you.
Table of Contents
Better Quality of Air
The quality of air within most urban settings is quite poor. The air in our cities is polluted from automobiles and industrial operations. On the other hand, the quality of air close to bodies of water is remarkably better. Besides the lack of pollutants in the air, there is another reason for better air quality here. The air near bodies of water is enriched with substantial amounts of negative ions. This goes on to enhance the level of oxygen absorption by our bodies. Breathing fresh air enhances your alertness, balances serotonin levels and goes on to elevate moods and reduce stress. This is one of the reasons that your mind and body crave fresh air when stuck in a difficult situation and your mind doesn’t seem to be working.
Better Sleep
The sounds of traffic and commotion that is typical of most urban settings are detrimental to the quality of sleep that you enjoy every night. Living close to bodies of freshwater has obvious benefits on the quality of your sleep. Living by a lake or another body of fresh water would mean that you’re far away from bustle and din of the city. Furthermore, water is known to have a calming effect on your body and mind. There is a reason why all the music that you tune into to help you sleep has white noise and sounds of water waves. It’s difficult to dispute the fact that these noises are better at inducing sleep than all other sounds combined.
Living close to fresh water will help you get better, deeper sleep and you will wake up fresh the next morning. You can also put suitable earphones on and listen to soft music to help get your mind to a relaxing state. Needless to say, getting good quality sleep everyday will have several positive health benefits for you.
Up Your White Blood Cell Count
There is more natural plantation around bodies of water such as lakes which can have a calming effect on you. Furthermore, there are specific plants close to bodies of water that give off a substance known as phytoncides, inhaling which leads to a boost in your white blood cell count that will fight off infections and keep illnesses at bay. Living close to bodies of freshwater, therefore, serves as a natural immunity booster.
Water Therapy
Modern lifestyles are stressful and take a toll on your mental and physical health. Water is known to be naturally therapeutic. Living closer to bodies of water is even more beneficial when it comes to helping your mind relax and recoup from the daily stressors of modern life. Going for a swim, or fishing, or just riding a boat into the middle of the lake can all be amazing ways to fight stress. Those going through post traumatic stress or facing a particularly tough situation can all benefit by living near bodies of freshwater such as lakes for all of the activities that they can partake in.
Get More Sun
Our modern urban living spaces do not provide ample opportunities to catch our daily dose of sunlight. When living close to water bodies, however, there are many ways in which you can get the right amount of sunlight. Lake houses or other dwelling options by freshwater are designed in a way for you to get enough sunlight. Besides, there are no high rise buildings around to block the sun anyway.
Sunlight is the most important source of vitamin D which is instrumental in ensuring calcium absorption and maintaining bone health. It can be found in a number of food sources but never in enough quantity. Sunlight is the best source which is amply available when you’re living close to a body of fresh water.
Strengthens Immune System
Living close to nature naturally makes you healthier. The purer air quality, lack of noise pollution, improved sleeping patterns and a number of other reasons contribute to less stress and a more relaxed lifestyle. When you minimize stress, get good sleep, get enough sun exposure and breathe fresh air, you’re bound to have your immune system working at peak levels.
There are a number of health benefits that living by a body of freshwater such as a lake holds for you. If you, too, want to make the most of the health benefits of lakeside living, you can check out our Destinations page for some of the best places to rent out or buy the best lake houses or lakeside properties in North America.
