Fishing is one of the most popular recreational sports in America and across many areas of the globe. While few of us fish for the necessities of finding food, it’s thought that over 55 million Americans went fishing in 2020, and this number looks set to rise even further. One of the main reasons that we love to fish so much is that it gets us out of the house, into the fresh air, and away from all of our day-to-day stressors. Fishing is fun, certainly, but it also improves our health and wellbeing in a wide variety of ways, without our needing to get hot and sweaty in a crowded gym. Here’s a look at some of the biggest health benefits that you can get from fishing regularly.
It Keeps You Fit
When you picture fishers, you might imagine people sitting still in chairs for hours at a time, doing little in the way of catching fish. But when you go bass fishing in Minnesota you can get a great workout, without really realizing that you are doing it. You’ll walk more, carry your gear, and lift a heavy (hopefully not empty) line from the water. Yes, it’s gentle exercise, spread out over hours, but it still counts.
Fresh Air Can Improve Heart and Lung Health
If you live in a large city, chances are you are exposed to far more air pollution than you might imagine. Fishing, especially if you get out into the country, or to a large lake, is a great way to breathe in plenty of fresh air. Do this regularly and it can start to flush out toxins, improving your heart and lung health, and reducing your risks of developing a massive range of health conditions.
Increased Exposure to Vitamin D
Vitamin D does so much for our bodies, and we’re lucky that with the sun, and a healthy diet, we get plenty of easy access to it. But vitamin D deficiency can be common in people that don’t see enough natural sunlight. It’s a common cause of seasonal depression over the darker months. Going fishing for a few hours can increase your exposure to vitamin D massively.
Fishing Combats Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety are common in the modern world. We’re all busy, always on the go, rushed, and stressed out. Life is hard, and there’s a lot to worry about. Fishing is slow, thoughtful, and still. It’s a chance to escape the stress and slow right down for a while. This can be great for your mental health.
Fishing Can Improve Your Focus
If you struggle to focus it might be because you are so used to moving quickly. When we fish, time slows, and we’re forced to take things at a different pace. Learn to do this, and you might find that your focus and concentration improve in other areas of your life.
Fish is Great for Your Diet
Of course, we don’t all fish to eat what we catch. But if you do add more fish to your diet, you’ll get more vitamins and nutrients, as well as healthy fatty acids, which can be very good for you.
There are many benefits to fishing. It can be a wonderful way to improve your physical and mental health, without having to work hard or make bold lifestyle changes. If you’ve never given it a go, what is stopping you?
