Fishing is a tradition that came from necessity and has since become almost entirely something done for sport in developed countries. It’s a great way to get in touch with your environment, to bond with your kids, and simply to get away from the hustle and bustle. But it also has a huge amount of health benefits you might not have necessarily realized.
The power of Zen
One of the most obvious benefits of fishing is just how relaxing it is. In our modern times, a lot of us get so busy that we rarely give ourselves the time to simply relax. But relaxation is important for the overall maintenance of your health. It reduces the rate of growth of cortisol in our brains. Cortisol is also known as the stress hormone because of the direct impact it can have on our emotional health, not to mention our sleep, weight, heart rate and beyond.
Not all fishing is equal
If you want to go fishing and make sure you get some health benefits from it, then you should know that different methods are going to result in different benefits. Most fishing is lower impact exercise, which makes it particularly good for those who have joint problems or are getting on in years. But for a little more activity, then look at this interesting read on fly fishing landing nets and consider a method that gets you up and moving a little more.
Maintaining your grasp
Fishing, no matter what kind it is, is going to rely on a lot of intricate hand movements. This might not seem like it’s going a lot of good, but in reality, it’s working those fine motor functions of yours. That dexterity is something we don’t think of as much compared to, say, muscle strength. But especially for maintaining grip strength and hand-eye coordination, it is vital to our later life.
Oh sunny day
One aspect of fishing that should be never be underestimated is the fact that it’s outside. With how easy it is to use a gym to work out and stay in front of a monitor for the rest of your life, it should be no surprise we’re seeing a vitamin D deficiency that just continues to spike through our population. Fishing makes a perfect excuse to catch some rays. Just make sure you take your sunscreen.
Good eatin’
Not all fishing is for food, but if you are fishing for food, then you’re ensuring that you are getting some very valuable ingredients for your meals. Fish rank amongst the top with dark leafy vegetables as some of the most nutrient-rich foods you could possibly have in your diet. In fact, certain fish like salmon are so rich that they should probably make a much more regular appearance on your dinner plate.
The next time someone asks you why you spend so much time fishing, you should have five very good reasons to answer them. Emotionally, as well as physically, it’s going to keep you active for a lot longer.
