India, Aug. 15 -- Next time you need an excuse to go on a beach vacation, just remember that the very act of being around water is scientifically proven to be good for you. As a paper published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology reported, just looking at a body of water can make you feel more relaxed and actually lower both your heart rate and your blood pressure. And while just about any body of water has the power to put your mind at ease for your next waterside getaway, why not visit some of the cleanest beaches on Earth?

The easiest way to find these beaches is to check out all the Blue Flag beaches of the world, a designation awarded to beaches, marinas, and tourism boats that qualify via "a series of stringent environmental...