Is beside the seaside the best place for you?

In days gone by the sick and infirm were often sent to the seaside to convalesce, in the hope the sea air would do them some good.

Today it may seem preposterous to many that a change of location could improve health, but a new study has shown that there was a great deal of merit to this historic method.

According to a cohort of researchers from the European Centre for Environment and Human Health (ECEHH), Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, and the School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, the seaside offers the most benefits to patients out of various other locations.

However, the benefits are enhanced for those that do exercise beside the sea, as the outdoor arena promotes feelings of enjoyment, refreshment and calmness.

Dr White, a lecturer in health and risk from the ECEHH, commented: "Our findings suggest it is time to move beyond a simple urban vs rural debate and start looking at the effect that different natural environments have on people's health and well-being."

Nonetheless, more research is needed into the health benefits of the natural environment, researchers claim.

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