"It's incredible how it resets me", "all my sorrows go by in front of the sea" or "I just need to see the water." Do these statements sound familiar to you?
The sea has magic. You know it makes you happy, but you may not know that its benefits are not limited to an emotion. It is not your thing, it is science that confirms that ‘ionization‘ is behind all the good that the sea does for you and the culprit that this place hooks you like no other.
Does it also happen to you that you have ended up assuming mental saturation, fatigue without apparent cause and headaches and muscle aches as collateral damage of modern life? Well, don't be fooled, feeling like this is not normal.
Behind that "I don't know what's wrong with me, but I'm not fine" that, unfortunately, you know so well, there is an excess of positive ions. If you live in a city, it is easy for it to be aggravated by pollution and noise and for all this to drain your internal battery.
And it is that air is made up of atoms. At the center of each atom are protons, which are positively charged, and electrons, which are negatively charged. To be contrary, positive ions (protons) charge us with negative energy and vice versa.
To understand each other, if we were talking about a movie about cops and robbers, the negatives would be the good guys and the positives the bad guys.
Each negative ion — also called an anion — is an atom or group of atoms that have won the battle against one or more foals, thus becoming a negative electric charge.
They are invisible. They have neither smell nor taste, and nature is the best place to find them. Natural physical phenomena such as rain, waterfalls, and fountains are his favorites, but the seashore is undoubtedly his home.
You don't even see them, but through your skin and your breath you absorb these microscopic molecules on a daily basis. This is how they reach your body and produce very interesting biochemical reactions for your emotional well-being.
They could well be compared to the effects of an anxiolytic. Only this one, totally natural and without side effects.
As if that were not enough, the sand is also negatively charged, so walking barefoot on the beach scores double. To give you an idea, the concentration on the coast is around 2,000 negative ions per cubic meter.
In a city it does not reach 100. And in a normal home without ventilation, only a few dozen. To add insult to injury, home appliances, mobile devices, synthetic-woven rugs, and plastic materials add to positive ions ("bad guys").
Do you understand now why nature trips make you feel so good?
Different studies confirm that negative ionization increases levels of serotonin, the neurotransmitter that helps the body to manage stress and improves mood.
Well, the benefits of having the sea nearby do not end here. Negative ionization causes levels of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase to rise.
Do you know what effect this powerful natural antioxidant has? Well, it repairs the cells of your face, reduces the damage that free radicals produce on your skin and causes a 'good face' effect.
So not only is it that you feel better, but your skin is better. As if that were not enough, this enzyme helps to eliminate impurities from the air, responsible for respiratory problems such as allergies, bronchitis or asthma. Does anyone give more?
Yes. Having the sea nearby makes you breathe better, strengthens your immune system and facilitates sleep and rest.
What if you are not lucky enough to live near the sea or the possibility of enjoying it whenever you want? Quiet, a forest, the bush or even a nearby park or garden are another option.
The key is to surround yourself with green and nature to fill yourself with vital energy, that creativity flows and you find yourself better thanks to negative ions.
And remember to open the window of your home when it rains, especially after a storm. Rain also contains negative ions, so when the sky discharges, take advantage of opening the window to purify the environment and refresh it.
Having plants at home will also help you create an environment of calm and well-being in your home.
Photographs by Helena Cornet