Can sea-swimming improve my health?
CrowdScience
BBC
4.8 • 985 Ratings
🗓️ 19 May 2023
⏱️ 34 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Anyone who has ever enjoyed a beach holiday will know there’s something special about being by the seaside. But does sea swimming actually have tangible health effects? This week’s listener Holly is a self-confessed water baby, and says her regular surf sessions on Sydney’s iconic Bondi beach make her feel happier and look younger. But could we get some of the benefits from the beach without getting our feet wet?
At the Plymouth Marine Lab, researchers have shown that the smell of the sea makes most people feel happier. They’re measuring sea spray aerosols containing natural compounds derived from algae, that dial down the inflammatory response in lung cancer cells. Other scientists in the region have investigated the use of virtual reality to simulate being by the coast, which is proven to reduce the experience of dental pain during treatment. Finally, we visit Teats Hill in Plymouth to find out how a waterside amphitheatre and an urban beach are helping residents feel safer and more connected to one another.
Producer: Marijke Peters Presenter: Marnie Chesterton
Editor: Richard Collings Production Coordinator: Jonathan Harris
Contributors:
Dr Frances Hopkins, Plymouth Marine Laboratory Dr Mike Moore, Plymouth Marine Laboratory Dr Mathew White, University of Vienna Dr Easkey Britton
Image credit: David Sacks | The Image Bank | Getty Images | 164241179
Created for the #BBCWorldService.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of |
| 0:07.0 | Happiness Podcast. |
| 0:08.0 | For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want |
| 0:14.4 | to share that science with you. |
| 0:16.1 | And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley. |
| 0:19.4 | I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that |
| 0:25.4 | calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:30.3 | Hello and |
| 0:35.0 | I'm Stoode on a beach world service. I'm Marnie Chesterton and I'm stood on a beach |
| 0:40.0 | with the waves lapping against my feet in Plymouth which is known as the UK's |
| 0:46.3 | ocean city. It's on the south coast the sun is shining now I've just scooped up some |
| 0:52.1 | sea water because this stuff is absolutely teeming with life and most of it I can't see with the naked eye but some of it people think has magical properties for curing all sorts of things. |
| 1:05.0 | But what does the evidence say? |
| 1:08.0 | That's exactly what this week's listener Holly has asked us to investigate. |
| 1:12.0 | Hi, I'm Holly Joshi, and I'm really interested in sea water swimming and its effects on health. |
| 1:17.0 | I moved to Australia from the US a few years ago, |
| 1:20.0 | and everyone here is convinced the sea is a fountain of youth. |
| 1:23.2 | I'm wondering if they're right. |
| 1:25.0 | Hi Holly, thank you for joining us from an iconic surf spot in Australia. |
| 1:31.2 | Where are you right now? I'm at the yes iconic Bondi Beach. |
| 1:36.0 | Can you describe Bondi Beach for our listeners? |
| 1:39.0 | So it's in Sydney Australia just 30 minutes from the central of the city. It's only about a |
... |
Transcript will be available on the free plan in -665 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.