Out Of The Blue

Researchers Are Discovering The Health Benefits Of Spending Time Near ‘blue Space’, Discovers Sarah Marinos

- Sarah Marinos

Homes with sea views can add hundreds of thousands – and sometimes millions, to the property value in New Zealand. Across the Tasman, homes overlooking Sydney Harbour command some of the highest real estate prices in Australia.

Around most of our coasts, waterfront properties and those within a short walk of the ocean with easy access to clean, sandy beaches, boating facilities and other water leisure activities, often demand higher prices than those in the suburbs or inner city.

But those homes may be worth much more than serious money. Their closeness to the water and their sea views may be priceless in terms of boosting our physical and mental health. And it’s all due to the ‘blue space’ effect.

The health benefits of spending time in ‘green space’, such as forests andparks, have been well documented. In fact, the beneficial effects are so well recognised that New Zealand became one of the first countries in the world to start giving patients ‘green prescriptions’.

The scripts, issued by health professionals, encourage people to get more physically active and help them develop a healthy eating and exercise plan. Often that script recommends getting outdoors and into nature. But it seems that being in or around blue space, in particular, can also work wonders for our mind and body. A growing number of studies are analysing the benefits of blue space, and evidence so far suggests that the more time we can spend near oceans, rivers or lakes, the more positive impacts we feel.

In Hong Kong last year, a study found spending time in and around the city’s harbours, coastlines and beaches was linked to better health and wellbeing, especially for older men and women. People with a view of the water or those who regularly visited blue spaces reported higher wellbeing and had a lower risk of depression.