WANT to live longer, look younger, burn more calories than running and football, and even boost your IQ? Well, don the togs and head for the ocean.
Ocean swimming is one of the world's fastest growing recreational sports, and Queensland - home to some of the world's most epic ocean swims - is just the place to do it.
The sunshine state hosts ocean swimming events from the Gold Coast to the Great Barrier Reef.
Swimmers can circumnavigate Green Island or make a splash off the World No. 2-ranked beach, beautiful Whitehaven Beach.
According to global studies, swimming - particularly in the ocean, immersed in nature - has been shown to have myriad health benefits.
Using seawater for health and wellness is known as thalassotherapy. Since the 1700s, doctors across Europe have recommended patients "go to the seaside" to improve all manner of ills, from scurvy to jaundice, leprosy and glandular fever.
Swimming is the perfect all-body exercise at any age, combining the benefits of aerobic exercise (minus high-impact stress on bones, muscles and joints), strength conditioning and deep rhythmic breathing.
Swimming (notably in the ocean) uses more muscles than running, football or baseball.
- Check out It's Live! in Queensland calendar of endurance events and this video guaranteed to bring out your inner mermaid/merman.
