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The Nature Nurse Blog

Swimming: The Surprising Longevity Powerhouse Every Woman Should Know About

8/24/2026

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There is a lot of discussion about longevity these days.  Personally, I always look to those women who have lived long and well enough to share what helped them live a long, healthy, functional life.

My neighbor, Ms. Wendy, just turned 92!  Look at her go!  She attributes her longevity to her lifelong swimming practice, prayer, and strong family connections.  Her healthcare providers always tell her she is doing so well because of her years of swimming.  The science concurs. Take a look.
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Swimming delivers broad physiological and psychological benefits that directly support women’s long‑term health and healthy aging. Research from 1990–2024 shows that regular swimming:

Strengthens cardiovascular health by improving cardiac output, lowering blood pressure, and enhancing lipid profiles and insulin sensitivity.

Improves pulmonary function, increasing lung capacity and respiratory efficiency.

Builds musculoskeletal stability, improving strength and mobility even though it has limited impact on bone mineral density compared to weight‑bearing exercise.

Supports metabolic health, reducing risk factors for metabolic syndrome.

Enhances mental well‑being, reducing stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms while supporting cognitive health — including preserving hippocampal volume in older women.

Reduces fall risk and improves functional fitness in older adults.

Is associated with lower all‑cause mortality, reinforcing its role as a longevity‑promoting activity.


Bottom line: Swimming is a whole‑body, low‑impact exercise that protects the heart, lungs, metabolism, mobility, and brain — a powerful longevity strategy for women.


See you in the water!


#WomensHealth #Longevity #Bluemind #HealthyLifetstyle 

Citation: 

SZARYŃSKI, Mikołaj, GÓLCZ, Adrian, KADŁUBOWSKA, Karolina, CHOJNOWSKA, Natalia, RYTEL, Jan, JAKUBOWSKA, Martyna, BURSZTYN , Tomasz, JAKUBOWSKA, Paulina, GÓLCZ, Julia, SIKORSKI, Adam and BURSZTYN, Michał. The Impact of Swimming on the Human Body and the Long-Term Physiological Consequences of The Sport - A Literature review. Quality in Sport. Online. 31 December 2025. Vol. 48, p. 67084. [Accessed 24 August 2026]. DOI 10.12775/QS.202



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SenseSational Summer

6/29/2026

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The calendar tells us it is now summer, but what about our senses?  What tells us it is now the season of sunlight?
 
My senses tell me it’s summer when I:
 
Smell the salty, briny sea
 
Hear seagulls clawing
 
See the Rosa rugosa shrubs blooming by the ocean and their rich, flowery scent delights my nose
 
Bite into a cold, juicy, sweet, vibrant-pink slice of watermelon on a hot, humid day, and my body screams, “Thank you, I needed that!”
 
Lean into a cold outdoor shower, and my skin awakens under the warm sun.
 
Now that summer is here in the Northern Hemisphere, what if we take some time to slow down and savor this opportunity?  Take some things off our plate, and be more intentional about noticing the delights of these lighter months.
 
Maybe switch from doing to being more, allowing our minds, bodies, and spirits to awaken to the joy only the natural world can offer.
 
Maybe showing gratitude to our home, which provides us with all this nourishment, wildlife, and infinite space?
 
The clock is ticking….how do you choose to spend this summer?

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5 FUN Games to Get Your Friends and Family Outside

11/20/2025

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When screens start stealing too much of our attention, nothing beats the laughter and connection of outdoor play. Whether you’re hosting a backyard gathering or heading to the park, these five games will spark joy, movement, and memories.
 
Pickleball is experiencing a surge in popularity: in 2025, over 22 million Americans are playing, making it the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. for the fourth consecutive year.  This beginner’s pickleball set might spark something new for some on your gift list:
 
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An oldie, but a goodie!  Croquet is a classic lawn game that is fun for all ages.  
 
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Spikeball is often described as “volleyball meets four square.” It’s accessible, competitive, and endlessly fun, making it a go-to game for family gatherings, picnics, or beach days.  Get their blood pumping with this game also growing in popularity.
 
Buy Now:
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Not the Jenga we remember playing for hours, this is GIANT Jenga- standing over five feet tall!  Guaranteed to draw in participants and generate laughs.  The perfect gift for the people on your list who love a challenge.

Buy Now:

 https://amzn.to/3MbhWs6
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What is the biggest deterrent to playing badminton?  Setting up the net.  Not anymore with this newly configured portable badminton set.  Another classic outdoor game.  Gentle, but invigorating, easy to learn, and easy to play.  And now you can take it anywhere!  Who wouldn’t want one of these?
 
Buy Now:
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Outdoor games aren’t just fun—they’re fuel for connection, laughter, and wellness. This holiday season, skip the screens and step into the sunshine.

Do you have an outdoor game that you think should be added to this list?  Share it in the comments.


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Adventure is FUN!

11/17/2025

4 Comments

 
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When was the last time you ventured outside of your comfort zone and tried something new?  Explored a new place?  Let yourself live on the edge a little, or color outside the lines.
 
This past week, I, along with millions in the northern hemisphere, found myself going out in the dark of night to capture the thrill of seeing the wondrous Northern Lights show that Mother Nature was putting on in the sky.  It was FUN!  Bundling up, driving around my hometown, looking for the darkest place with the most open sky.  Standing in the pitch black on roadsides and in fields, my senses heightened just in case a bear came by.
 
At one point, I went to a local Arboretum and found a few cars parked together in the otherwise empty lot.  “Ugg,” I thought, hoping it wasn’t a group of teens up to no good.  Instead, it turned out to be a bunch of retirees who also thought this would be the perfect place to see the lights.  Then a small family came by and joined me on the watching bench.
 
“You know,” the father said, “whenever I come here during the day, no one is ever here.  I come in the middle of the night and look at all the people.”  We all chuckled at the irony.  We didn’t see any Auroras that night due to thick cloud cover, but I can tell you it was FUN, and exciting, just hoping I would. The night air was invigorating. I felt a lot more alive than if I had sat home watching TV.
 
So, this week, I invite you to find an adventure of your own.  And, for those who are saying, “Nah, I’m good.”, okay.  Because, after all, isn’t life just one big adventure?
 
#FUN #Weekend #Nature #NatureConnection #HealthyLifestyle 

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