The best medicine? Traveling. You may have read it thousands of times, but there are scientific facts that show that doing it improves health, extends life, reduces the risk of heart attack, is good for the brain and helps depression.
The benefits of travel are many and not only for the mind, think that those who travel have a more relaxed and luminous skin, lose weight and have a better sex life. That’s why we should all travel more. Read down below and find out which are the benefits of traveling.
Reduces stress levels
It might not be a surprise but travel has been scientifically proven to increase happiness, decrease depression and help you relax. One study found that after a three-day vacation, the surveyed travelers felt well rested, less anxious and in a good mood. These improvements didn’t go away when they got home, they benefited for weeks.
It is good for the brain and improves creativity
Traveling expands the mind. You meet new people. Experience new situations. You become more culturally aware. All of this is good for your health, because new experiences increase cognitive flexibility, keeping the mind sharp. Studies have shown that there is a connection between travel, increased creativity, and a deeper sense of cultural awareness and personal growth. And according to the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, those who travel and study abroad tend to be more open and emotionally stable.
Benefits on the immune system
Traveling exposes you to different environments that create more potent antibodies and significantly boost your immune system. Antibodies are the small proteins that protect the immune system from harmful pathogens. When you travel your body adapts to thousands of new bacteria, which in turn makes it much stronger.
Reduces the risk of heart disease
People who move away from home for a short vacation are generally less stressed and anxious (or at least willing to take a break from stress). For this reason, the Framingham Heart Study found that men and women who traveled annually were less likely to suffer a heart attack or develop cardiovascular disease.
Keeps in shape
Leaving aside the movements that force us to sit for hours and hours on trains, buses, planes, traveling also means having many opportunities to be active. When traveling, there is a great desire to try new things and see everything there is to see, so it is more likely that you will walk a lot more than you would at home, you will plan excursions to discover the most pissable. Even if you plan to stay on the beach all day, walking on the sand will force your muscles to work twice as much.
It has healing properties
There are many places on Earth that have healing properties. When traveling, you can visit sites that contribute to physical well-being, such as the (free) hot springs, natural hot springs in Turkey, Iceland or Costa Rica. Diving in these mineral-rich waters can improve skin, relieve pain and stress and increase longevity.
It reduces the possibility of depression
The lifestyle characterized by intense work and hectic pace, stress and irritability and causes negative effects on our productivity, efficiency and well-being. Research has revealed that people who go on vacation less than once every two years are more likely to suffer from depression and stress than those who leave twice a year.
Stimulates happiness and satisfaction
Most people tend to be happier when they travel and, of course, don’t have to worry about work. However, one of the most interesting aspects of a Cornell University study is that people tend to be happier simply by planning a trip.
Makes you smarter
Used to gathering inputs from new environments or new lungs, the brain stays in training with the consequent improvement of brain capacities. Traveling also helps you to know yourself. You may run into difficult situations where you have to be resourceful and think differently – you will develop a new set of skills you didn’t even suspect you had.
Makes you live longer
It’s true; those who travel tend to have a longer life expectancy. Whether to distant destinations or not, all forms of travel improve the quality of life and can actually increase life expectancy. Numerous researches have shown that traveling reduces stress, keeps the body healthy (inside and out) and is good for the brain. All of this translates into a greater chance of living longer.
