Last summer, I witnessed an interesting situation on the beach. The day was hot, the sea had not yet warmed up, the water was cool. There were few people in the water, most of them were basking in the sun, and those who dared to swim only dived for a short time, informs Ukr.Media.
After overhearing the conversation of two women, I became interested: one of them was looking at her watch and telling the other that it took at least 10 minutes to swim in the cold sea water, while the other insisted on returning to shore quickly, saying it was cold!
Eventually, I started to wonder: why 10 minutes? And is there really any particular benefit to it?
I decided to figure out what was true and what was just a magical myth.
Myth 1: Micronutrients enter the body in 10 minutes
The woman was sure: you need to be in the sea for at least 10 minutes, because it is during this time that the necessary amount of minerals and nutrients from the water are “absorbed” through the skin. It sounds impressive, but the truth is somewhat different.
Our skin is a very reliable barrier created by nature to protect against the external environment. Serious penetration of trace elements from seawater into the blood and tissues in such a short time is practically impossible. Yes, minerals can settle on the surface of the skin, but the idea that some kind of “mineralization” occurs in the body in 10 minutes seems quite fantastic.
10 minutes is a perfectly comfortable amount of time for the body to get used to the water temperature and get over the initial chill. But there's no “magic” in this number.
Myth 2: The pores of the skin open, and then the “good stuff” is absorbed
The woman also said that while bathing, the pores of the skin supposedly open, allowing minerals to penetrate inside.
But in fact, pores expand and open mainly from heat (for example, in a sauna), while cold or just cool water, on the contrary, causes them to narrow.
Myth 3: The sea is the best way to train your blood vessels
And then I finally heard the truth. The contrast of temperatures — warm air and cold water — causes the blood vessels to react: at first they constrict, adapting to the cold, and then they dilate.
Regular such “training” really contributes to better vascular tone and the body's ability to respond quickly to temperature changes.
But, again, a strict 10-minute limit is irrelevant here: listen to your own body, feel good – swim as long as you are comfortable.
Myth 4: Sea bromine relaxes you while bathing
The woman also talked about bromine in seawater. That it is absorbed through the skin during swimming and helps relax the nervous system.
It is true that sea water contains bromine, and some of its compounds were once even used in medicine as sedatives. However, the amount of bromine in the sea is very small, and it is almost not absorbed through the skin. The real relaxation from swimming in the sea comes more from the lightness in the water, the fresh air, and the feeling of being on vacation.
Myth 5: The benefits end in 15 minutes
And her last advice to her friend was this: supposedly 15 minutes after swimming, the effect of seawater disappears, and the salt on the skin becomes harmful and it is better to wash it off.
In fact, this is a convention. Salt should be washed off for hygienic reasons: it can dry the skin or cause irritation, but this fact has nothing to do with the mechanisms of “harmful action”.
So, swimming in the sea is good for your mood, blood vessels, spine, muscles, and for the simple joy of life. But you don't have to measure this time with a stopwatch. Focus on yourself, the temperature, your own desire, and your well-being. And let all the stories about the “magic 10 minutes” remain in the category of beach myths.
