The advent of digital hobbies might lead one to believe that fishing is losing its popularity. However, surprising as it may seem, its popularity has hardly been affected.
According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), the number of recreational fishermen far exceeds 200 million , although there are studies that speak of up to 700 million, which would mean that almost a tenth of the population world goes fishing from time to time. For the United States, a report states that the fan index has barely fallen in a decade (by 0.8% between 2008 and 2018).
The reasons why the percentage of fishermen is declining is due solely to population growth. This is all good news, as fishing is not just a fun hobby, but it can also improve your physical and mental health. Today we will tell you about six important benefits that fishing brings to people’s health and well-being:
1. Fishing helps relieve stress
The average fisherman goes fishing between one and three times a year. A single fishing day, however, is equivalent to a walk in the forest or a weekend on a quiet beach in terms of reducing stress and providing a sense of well-being. 90% of those surveyed mention the desire to “relax” among the main motivations for going niagara on the lake fishing.
Why does this effect occur? Fishing and nature go hand in hand. Stress hormone cortisol is reduced by spending time in green and natural environments. In a world as fast-paced as ours, nature acts as an escape for people and manages to relieve nerves and restore lost inner peace.
In addition, you can only think about your own fishing activities when it comes to fishing. If you get distracted, you may lose the fish. Studies have shown that focusing on a single thing or activity reduces stress and is similar to the practice of mindfulness.
2. A fly fishing session is the equivalent of a full workout
Those who have only seen people fishing in the movies may think that it consists of sitting under a tree and relaxing with a pole – a simple activity that requires little effort.
However, the reality is quite different from this image. A fly fishing session involves wading, casting, rowing, climbing, and stretching, so it’s not just about sitting still while smoking a cigarette waiting for the fish to bite. It is true that there are periods of inactivity, but the fisherman moves most of the time.
As you throw, stretch, and row, the use of the arms is evident. All parts of the upper extremities are used, including the hands, wrists, forearms, arms, and shoulders. These movements also strengthen the back muscles.
As for the middle and lower body areas, they assist in maintaining balance when casting the line, catching fish or wading. Although a static load uses the legs less, it is still just as effective as a dynamic load. The well-known plank exercise demonstrates this.
3. Fishing strengthens the immune system
Being outdoors is also beneficial for your health due to the dose of natural vitamin D that the body receives while walking. Something very similar happens during a day of fishing, since it allows us to expose ourselves to the sun for a while. Various researchers have studied the effect of vitamin D on the immune system and have found that the lack of this vitamin causes a less effective response of innate immunity to stimuli.
Low levels of vitamin D, for example, make people more prone to respiratory infections than those with sufficient levels of the vitamin. Today, with the threat of the coronavirus, this aspect is becoming more important than ever.
With fishing, immunity improves even more. Physical activity increases the production of helper T cells, which are regulated by the immune response.
4. Fishing can serve as therapy to recover from an addiction
Fishing can speed recovery in the case of a behavioral addiction, which is one that occurs when a person has a harmful habit that is beyond their control. A good example of this is gambling about the difference between pike and musky. People gamble in the hope of receiving a reward, mainly financial. Some of them may be so drawn to the sensation of bets that they end up hooking.
In most cases, the fishermen also hope to return home with a reward, this time in the form of fish like . But even if they can’t, the sensation of fishing encourages them to get up early and sit by a pond for hours. Fishing follows a pattern of behavior similar to that of the game: although the probability of obtaining a reward is never 100%, the desire to practice is not lost.
If we replace gambling with fishing, we go from a harmful habit to a fascinating hobby, which offers at least five other health benefits apart from this one.
5. Regular fishing improves overall concentration
Here’s how it works anyway: traditional fly fishing rods include a hollow cork that stays afloat until a fish bites the hook. The fisherman must remain silent and be very attentive to the cork in case a fish bites, since he has a very short period of time to pull the rod and prevent the catch from escaping.
To be a good fisherman, you have to focus a lot on what is happening. It is also important to be very still and move as little as possible so as not to scare the fish.
In some ways, the process is similar to a meditation exercise, with the difference that you have to act at a given moment. Systematic meditation improves concentration, also in daily life.
6. Fish enriches the diet
So far we have focused on the benefits of the fishing process. Now we will turn to the results: returning home with a good catch contributes to maintaining a healthy diet for the whole family.
Fish has many important nutrients, such as low-fat protein, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and iodine. Not all fish have the same values; It all depends on the region you live in and the water reserves you have access to.
Saltwater oily fish, such as salmon, tuna or sardines, are the healthiest. Its high content of omega-3 fatty acids is beneficial for the heart and blood vessels, so eating this type of fish at least twice a week reduces the likelihood of cardiovascular disease by 15%.
However, freshwater fish are also good sources of lean protein and tend to be higher in calcium according to lake ontario salmon fishing tips.
Some fish accumulate mercury in the body, such as king mackerel, swordfish, shark, and light tuna. However, it is unlikely that a recreational fisherman will be able to catch a shark, but it is still best not to buy this type of fish in the market.
In short, both occasional and regular fishing are good for your health for multiple reasons. This hobby combines the benefits of any outdoor activity like niagara fishing adventures with a light full exercise session and anti-stress practices, such as contemplating nature or meditating.
However, these are only general observations. How does fishing help you, both mentally and physically? Leave your comment and share your experience.
