As if we need more reasons to travel a study has revealed going on holidays slows ageing
Travelling is actually good for us, a new study has confirmed yet again.
We know the benefits to our mental health that can come from taking a break and going on holidays.
But now, research conducted at Edith Cowan University, WA, has shown travel can actually slow the ageing process.
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Going on holidays can actually slow the ageing process. iStock
The study, published in the Journal of Travel Research, is believed to be the first-ever that applied the theory of entropy – the general trend of the universe towards death and disorder – to tourism.
"Tourism isn't just about leisure and recreation. It could also contribute to people's physical and mental health," ECU PhD candidate Fangli Hu said.
"Ageing, as a process, is irreversible. While it can't be stopped, it can be slowed down."
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Tourism typically exposes people to new surroundings and relaxing activities, and novel settings can stimulate stress responses and elevate metabolic rates, positively influencing metabolic activities and the body's self-organising capabilities. These contexts may also trigger an adaptive immune system response.
"Leisurely travel activities might help alleviate chronic stress, dampen overactivation of the immune system, and encourage normal functioning of the self-defence system," Fangli added.
Meanwhile, holidays that include active experiences like hiking or swimming encourage people to get moving and enjoy the many well-known benefits of exercise.
It can "enhance the body's immune function and self-defence capabilities, bolstering its hardiness to external risks".
In response to their study, the experts suggested that "travel therapy could serve as a groundbreaking health intervention."
Negative holiday experiences can have the opposite effect. Getty
Of course, there are two sides to every coin. On the flip side, the research pointed out that tourists could face challenges such as infectious diseases, accidents, injuries, violence, water and food safety issues, and concerns related to inappropriate tourism engagement.
Which in turn will have the opposite effect on our health.
"Conversely, tourism can involve negative experiences that potentially lead to health problems, paralleling the process of promoting entropy increase," Fangli said.
