The sea: a real, natural and free medicine

Have you ever thought about your holidays at the seaside as not just a source of relaxation and fun, but also as a real natural medicine for our body? Well, the water of the sea, its salt, the sun and the sand will be the perfect elixir this summer. Indeed, they all are rich of properties, which are really good for our health. Let’s see some of them.

1. The sea: an ally for our immune system

The water in the sea has a great quantity of iodine and dietary elements, which all together become a natural antibiotic: they strengthen the immune system, ease the release from toxins and speed up the healing process from cuts and other wounds.

Then, iodine is a really important element for our body, most of all for the production of the thyroid hormones. Indeed, too less iodine in our body can cause difficulties in the production of these hormones and compromise the right development of the central nervous system, most of all in children. Spending a holiday at the seaside will be therefore the perfect solution, in order to enjoy a iodine-rich diet, too: fishes, shellfishes and seafood.

2. The sea reactivates and purifies the body

• Sea water has draining effects that reduce water retention, thanks to its low temperature. This stimulates the circulatory and lymphatic system and speeds up the metabolism.
• It clears the respiratory tract
• It purifies the skin, keeping it cleaner, younger and elastic. The exceptional exfoliating action of the sand together with the natural antibiotic properties help treating psoriasis , dermatitis and acne.
• You can benefit from thalassotherapy. This is a treatment based on the action of the water, sand baths and marine algae that stimulate the circulatory system and help reducing bone pain and easing post-traumatic rehabilitation.
• It promotes movement and physical activity. There are a lot of opportunities to do some exercise: have a swim, a walk along the beach or beach volley, for example. Moreover, juse the fact of walking on such an irregular and soft ground like the sand will burn more fat than usual.
• Revitalise yourself with vitamin D! The sun helps fixing calcium in your bones, making them stronger and providing benefits to both the very young and the older people.

3. Do you feel a bit stressed out? Leave it to the sea!

The sea is a great antidepressant. You will be flooded with positive emotions because you will stay with friends, you will feel active and you will relax lting under the warm sun. Having a walk on the beach will not just make you do some exercise, but it will stimulate also the thousands nerve endings under your feet. Just like being massaged! Moreover, the sweet and continuous voice of the waves is so relaxing that can calm any anxiety and after a day full of movement you will feel so tired that the quality of your sleep will definitely be on top.

10 ideas to spend a holiday at the sea, totally dedicated to wellness, in Italy.

Here you are just 400 m away from the crystal clear water of Cala Molinella (Apulia, Italy)

In the eco village of Cala Molinella (Vieste) you will be just a stone’s throw away from Molinella beach and in the wonderful Gargano Natural Park. Besides all the good benefits of the sea, you will live a totally eco-friendly holiday.  The village has an eco-friendly structure and offers a lot of chances to get in touch with nature: a 100% organic garden where you can taste seasonal fruit and vegetables, a didactic farm, the tree-house and various suggestions to make some walks surrounded by nature, such as trekking in the hills, where you will enjoy the beautiful view of the seaside.

Here you are surrounded by nature, a stone’s throw from Sirolo beach (Marche, Italy)

You will enjoy a relaxing sea view holiday in this amazing eco-friendly relais. It is just 3 km away from the beautiful sea of Sirolo, on the Conero Riviera. Acanto Country House is a cottage of very white stones, immersed in the green landscape and surrounded by an exclusive park where you can relax and be in contact with nature. For your wellness enjoy also the solarium, the salt water swimming pool and hydro massage. Moreover, the relais has an agreement with the Sirolo Conero Golf, a riding school and a surf and sailing school!

Here you can admire the sea from above, between the citrus fruits and the olive groves of Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy)

In Sicily, on Mount Etna: a holiday between sea and mountains that offers a breath-taking view. The BagolArea EcoFarm on Mount Etna gives its guests two different possibilities for an accommodation: wood chalets between the citrus fruits or tents in the panoramic camping area. The ancient restored farm offers a bio kitchen, based on fruits and vegetables of their own production, agri-camping and various itineraries for eco-tourism and sport tourism. This way, you will be able to discover the place and do some exercise while into the nature.

Here you will enjoy a unique view of the Gulf of Naples (Campania, Italy)

Villa Carolina Country House is a B&B offering zero-km and organic food, jacuzzi, swimming pool, a splendid view of the Gulf of Naples and hikes immersed in nature for a 100% wellness experience.

Here you are really close to the promenade of Rimini (Emilia Romagna, Italy)

The Eco Hotel Green Chic in Igea Marina is just a few minutes’ walk from the beach. If you choose to stay here, you must try the cuisine featuring genuine, organic, and locally sourced dishes. From the balcony of your Relax Room, you can breathe in the fresh sea breeze, and in the bathroom, you will find a Jacuzzi tub for a relaxing soak.

Here you are between the promenade of Viareggio and the Pine Forest on the sea (Tuscany, Italy)

Guesthouse Arsella in Viareggio (Lucca) suites perfectly whoever loves both the sea and having long walks in the nature. Indeed, it is only 50 m away from the nearest beaches and “La Passeggiata” (the sparkling promenade of Viareggio) and just a stone’s throw away from “Parco Pineta”, where adults and children can have fun and relax while playing tennis, minigolf, going to the luna park, seeing horses, bicycles and restaurants. 

Here you are in an ancient tower immersed in the green landscape, overlooking the sea (Liguria, Italy)

This incredible residence has been realised in an ancient tower from the 1500. You can find it in Mortola (Imperia) and it is immersed in a fascinating botanic garden overlooking the sea. The Mortola tower luxury eco resort offers organic and zero-km food, has an eco-friendly architecture and boasts a wellness centre based on the benefits of the “arborescens Aloe”, which is cultivated according to bio-organic criteria at the tower. Guests can benefit from it by booking massages and therapeutic treatments.

Here you are in an unspoilt island, surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea (Pantelleria island, Italy)

Resort Tenuta Borgia is a typical house of Pantelleria Island, which is immersed in the unspoilt wild nature and will give you breath-taking views, spectacular sunsets and emerald waters. I suggest you should taste the famous “Passito di Pantelleria”, of which the farm cultivates the main ingredient: the typical Zibibbo grape. Moreover, the surrounding park offers the guests all the delicious seasonal fruit they can take directly from the trees.

Here you will relax in an innovative ecological house, very close to Montalbano beaches (Sicily, Italy)

Punta Secca, in the province of Ragusa, is the location for the house of the most famous Commissioner in Italy: Montalbano. Weather or not you are fond of this fiction, you will surely be happy to spend a holiday in this beautiful Sicilian coastline. Here I suggest you a B&B, or better, a real ecological house: the SempreVerde. Besides being entirely built with natural materials such as wood, cork, unfired clay, tadelakt and bamboo, and being furnished with fruit and purifying plants, the B&B offers zero-km organic food cultivated in its own garden, in order to give you a holiday at the sea always respecting the environment.

Here you will be pampered with delicious organic and homemade dishes (Sardinia, Italy)

Also Il Sentiero B&Bio in Sant’Antioco (Sardinia) puts the environmental sustainability first. It offers various eco-tourism routes, rich and tasty organic breakfasts, which are also homemade and zero-km, and the rooms are furnished with care, choosing natural materials and eco-friendly furniture. Moreover, the beautiful Sulcis beaches and those of the island are really close from here!

Cover photo: photo by Shoot N’ Design via Unsplash

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