On a sunny summer’s day there can surely be nothing more glorious than swimming outdoors. In England alone, at least 7.5 million people regularly take to outdoor pools and open water, says Jon Glenn of Swim England. ‘But we’ve seen more people take to wild swimming – in rivers, lakes and the sea – after pools were closed during the pandemic. And I expect the habit to stick.’ If you’re tempted to join them, fans say that being in cold water will make you feel more alive and alert, while boosting your immunity and waging war on many inflammatory conditions including diabetes, dementia and arthritis. But as with anything involving water, you need to be sensible.
Our understanding of cold swimming’s benefits for immunity and inflammation is still developing. For…
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Woman's Weekly Living Series (Digital) - 1 Issue, June 2023