Is Travel Really The Secret To Delaying Signs Of Aging?

Aging is a hot topic worldwide, as life expectancies increase and the population over 65 grows. Youth generally seems to be the (unattainable) goal: smoother skin, zero wrinkles, dyed hair, young bodies, and young brains. It's true that getting older isn't easy, and there's nothing wrong with attempting to minimize the very real impact of aging. However, instead of trying to prevent aging, aging gracefully (and not just in appearance) should be the goal. After all, at the end of the day, aging is a privilege. If we're lucky, we get to live longer, so how do we make sure we're still living well? 

There are approximately 1.8 trillion articles on this issue (that's a very official number), not to mention hundreds of theories on how best to combat aging, stay active, and stay healthy. Based on a study from Edith Cowan University in Australia (via ScienceDaily), one recent analysis suggests that one of the best ways to combat aging is ... to travel! Travel doesn't just check off your bucket list adventures before you die, but it also has documented impacts on mental health, physical health, and even brain health. And now, researchers are saying travel can also slow aging in your cells. The study's author, Fangli Hu, says, "Ageing, as a process, is irreversible. While it can't be stopped, it can be slowed down." One way to do this is to utilize the benefits of wanderlust.

In this study, scientists compared how travel could impact entropy in the body. Entropy, the scientific principle of inevitable disorder within a system, happens within our body's central systems as we age. As our bodies age, they require more energy for their upkeep, similar to how an older house needs more fixes (or energy). Experts theorize that positive experiences can mitigate entropy, thus enhancing health and slowing aging. (On the flip side, negative experiences can increase entropy in the body.) In ECU's study, Ms. Fangli Hu notes "that positive travel experiences could enhance individuals' physical and mental wellness through exposure to novel environments, engagement in physical activities and social interaction, and the fostering of positive emotions."

In other words, the inherent nature of travel includes new surroundings and people, relaxation, physical exertion, and improvement of the immune system. Traveling also encourages less chronic stress, which means "organs and tissues can then remain in a low-entropy state." Travel seems especially conducive to positive experiences that promote decreased entropy, as researchers "applied the theory of entropy to tourism, finding that travel could have positive health benefits, including slowing down the signs of aging."

Unfortunately, travel also involves an intrinsic risk, and a positive experience isn't guaranteed. However, if international travel is a concern, domestic travel is still likely to help decrease aging, and you're more likely to avoid getting sick while traveling (which would definitely be classified as a negative experience). Anything that gets you out of your comfort zone and provides novelty, as well as exercising your body and brain, can have this effect. Travel just happens to combine all of this and more. 

As the study's author also noted, "Tourism isn't just about leisure and recreation. It could also contribute to people's physical and mental health." In addition to the potential anti-aging benefits, there are a whole host of other reasons travel can be good for you. And although there are a lot of reasons why you should take a wellness retreat, your trip doesn't need to be uber-focused on health for you to reap the rewards. All that matters is you go!

When it comes to mental health, it's probably not surprising that vacationing can make you happier. A trip abroad can also improve emotional resilience and open-mindedness while increasing confidence, lowering stress, and reducing depression. Scientists agree that brain health is just as integral as physical health as you age, which means physical activity (two birds with one stone!), plenty of sleep, managing stress, learning new things, socializing, and keeping the brain sharp with mentally stimulating activities. Stepping foot in a new place is especially beneficial, as it works your brain in so many ways: a new language, new sights, new tastes, new experiences, new people, new customs, and more.