Negative Ions and the Beach
The benefits of spending time at the beach are well known, and the pleasant sights and sounds can have a positive effect on your mental state.
Another benefit that might not be as well known, however, is the effect of negative ions at the beach on your health. Negative ions can help you to relax and unwind in addition to having several physical health benefits as well.
If you’re thinking about going to the beach, take advantage of these benefits by knowing more about negative ions at the beach and how they can benefit you!
How do negative ions form on the beach?
Negative ions are formed when water molecules rub against each other in the ocean and when air molecules rub against each other in wind. In addition, UV rays can split air molecules on the beach to form negative ions.
Benefits of Negative ions
Negative ions occur naturally in water and the air, and when we’re exposed to them in high concentrations, they can do some amazing things. Studies show that negative ions can improve your health in several ways.
- Negative ions help to improve our mood and reduce stress levels and anxiety
- They help us fall asleep faster and improve the quality of sleep
- Negative ions help with symptoms of chronic depression and Seasonal affective disorder
- Improve the quality of air and help with respiratory symptoms
- Negative ions increase cognitive functions (attention, memory, language, executive functions, and Visual and Spatial abilities)
- Enhance the activity of cells in our body that fight cancer
- Negative ions can reduce pain symptoms
What are the other natural sources of negative ions?
High concentrations of negative ions are found associated with moving water and therefore in these places.
- Waterfalls
- Rivers
- Forests
What is the concentration of negative ions at the beach and at home
In nature, like at the beach, negative ion concentration is around 100,000 ions per cm³ and in indoor environments, this falls to 100 ions per ml.
How to increase negative ions in your home
If you want to recreate these relaxing beach conditions without leaving your home, try the followings.
- A water fountain.
- Using a Himalayan salt lamp
- Using negative ion generators
In a water fountain, friction between water molecules will form negative ions. You can make one at spare time or can order a readymade one like this Teamson water fountain.
Himalayan salt lamps are another way to generate negative ions at home. A salt lamp is closer to nature and is soothing. If you’re looking for a salt lamp make sure to get one with pink salt originating from the Khewra salt mine in Pakistan like this one from Spantik.
Negative ion generators are the best way to generate negative ions as they are cheap, portable, and generate ions at higher concentrations.
If you’re looking for a negative ion generator, I’m recommending Clarifion Air Ionizer as it is portable, small in size, cheap, and does a good job to to remove indoor pollutants.
Negative ions health risks
Although the name is negative, these negative ions are actually beneficial to our bodies. They are not known to be harmful. The harmful ones are the positive ions and are found in abundance in polluted places. Negative ions help to counteract the effects of positive ions by neutralizing them.
When using negative ion generators, if you don’t choose a high-quality one, there’s the risk of generating ozone in high concentrations.
What is negative ion therapy?
While most people typically see negative ions as just a way to improve their mood and make them feel more energetic, new research is showing that these tiny particles can have a profound effect on our health.
Negative ion therapy is a non-pharmacological treatment method to treat the symptoms of respiratory diseases like asthma, allergies, mood disorders, and insomnia using negative ions.
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of walking down to the beach on a windy day, taking off your shoes and socks, and digging your toes into the warm sand. The sound of the waves crashing against the shoreline, the smell of saltwater in the air, and the taste of salt on your lips all bring something extra to your beach experience. It turns out that there are more benefits to visiting the beach than just relaxation and enjoyment; negative ions can also have an incredible effect on your health, making you healthier and happier while you’re there.
