Travelling has often been considered one of the most popular and luxurious endeavors to undertake. However, there is more to traveling than just having a good time with your family and friends. Believe it or not, there is a plethora of scientific evidence that shows that traveling is immensely beneficial to your physical, mental and emotional well-being.
Here are some of the most effective scientifically-backed benefits that traveling brings to your health:
1. Boosts Your Immune System
Usually, being exposed to dirt any type of illness is bad news for our bodies, but some research seems to indicate that exposure to dirt and minor illnesses (perhaps from recirculated airplane air and hotel TV remotes) can make us stronger, especially in the gut where most of our immune system is situated. Of course, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t practice basic hygiene by not washing your hands and such, just that being exposed to new bacteria may not be so bad after all as it could help create stronger antibodies.
Other studies say that our bodies can develop the memory of a microbial pathogen, with enhanced readiness to fight that microbe, but only when exposed to it.
2. Reduces Stress Levels
It may be obvious to those who work themselves to the bone at their tiresome office jobs, but it is scientifically proven that travel can alleviate your stress and boost your happiness levels way up the scale. According to one study, travelers found themselves to be less anxious, well-rested, and in a better mood after three days of their vacation. And the best part of this was that the experience didn’t disappear once they got home. In fact, it lasted for several weeks.
3. Improves Brain Resilience
There are lots of scientific resources that prove traveling can enhance brain resilience. When you step into new locations and environments, your brain goes into overdrive as it takes in and observes everything that is going around you. This sharpens your mind as it tries to process and understand new information.
When you give your brain something new to focus on, it lets your mind take a break from troubles, problems, and issues that it was previously occupied with. Doing this recharges your brain so you can take on your problems with a clearer mind and a new perspective.
4. It Decreases Your Risk Of Heart Disease
The reason for this is that when people are away from their houses and office jobs, they are less stressed and anxious, or at the very least, away from their stressors. This is proven from the long-running Framingham Heart Study, which found that both men and women who travel yearly are less likely to develop any heart disease or a heart attack.
5. It Keeps You Fit
What else do you think is going to happen from all that sightseeing and visiting various areas and trying out all sorts of things to keep you occupied and active? As a matter of fact, your holiday workout starts right at the start of the airport once you’ve landed. All those long walks from the airport to your terminal and then having to go to your destination whether it is on the ground to visit the Eifel Tower, or by sea by enjoying a nice relaxing cruise on Dmitry Rybolovlev yacht Anna, will have your heart pumping at that moment.
6. Lowers The Risk Of Depression
Plenty of people suffer from depression, especially in western countries like the United States. It’s also not even uncommon for doctors to overprescribe medication for those who suffer from depression.
Fortunately, there are healthier options available to help the depressed escape such as the blues, and travel appears to be one of them, according to several pieces of research.
According to a study from Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin, women who travel at least twice a year are less likely to suffer from depression and chronic stress than those who don’t.
