T
ravelling to foreign places doesn’t only
provide you with wonderful memories to
last a lifetime; it can actually leave you
in much better health – both mentally and
physically. Instead of thinking of travel as a
luxury, the vast benefits suggest we should make
it a much bigger priority for our wellbeing.
(
Being on holiday
has shown to lower stress
levels and anxiety, leaving
us feeling well-rested
and in a better mood
(
DE-STRESS
Just the mere thought of a holiday can
make you feel more relaxed, whether
your dream getaway involves outdoor
adventures or exploring a new culinary
world. Even a short holiday has been
shown to lower perceived levels of stress,
leaving us feeling well-rested and in
a better mood. Decreasing stress and
cortisol can work wonders for your entire
body – slowing down ageing, reducing
your risk of heart disease, boosting your
brain health and extending your life span.
A 2000 study in Psychosomatic Medicine
also found that people who don’t take a
holiday for several years are more likely to
suffer heart attacks. If you feel stress is
wearing you down, booking a trip could be
just what your body needs. Plus, the act of
planning can have a positive impact
on stress levels and mental wellbeing:
a study by Cornell University discovered
that people are significantly happier
while planning a trip that they might
not even take!Natural defences
Our daily routine often means that we spend a lot of our
time in the same house, workplace, outdoor spaces and modes
of transport each day, and our immune systems become
familiar with these surroundings. Travelling to a new country
forces our bodies to adapt to different bacteria, climates, food,
plants and animals in the environment, which can create
stronger antibodies and consequently, a much stronger
immune system. See over the page for advice on how to
stay well while overseas.BRAIN BOOSTER
Touch down at your destination, and
straight away there’s an abundance
of novel stimuli for the brain to deal
with – think food, language, road codes,
currency, dress-codes and laws, let
alone navigating the streets! All this
new information is great for boosting
cognitive function and neuroplasticity,
which can help to sharpen memory
and may help reduce the risk of
degenerative brain diseases like
Alzheimer’s. »be informed
be nourished
simply be
be energised
be inspired