Key Points
- Researchers at Edith Cowan University in Perth have found travelling can keep people looking younger for longer.
- Tourism can positively impact physical and mental health.
- Even short trips can be beneficial, researchers said.
Plenty of Australians are travelling overseas for cosmetic treatments and tweaks, but new research suggests half the work might be done just by stepping on the plane.
Academics at Perth's Edith Cowan University have found that along with mental and physical benefits, travel can keep people looking younger.
"Ageing, as a process, is irreversible. While it can't be stopped, it can be slowed down," Fangli Hu, a researcher at Edith Cowan University in Perth, told AAP.
Exposure to new cultures, languages, surroundings and relaxing activities can stimulate stress responses and elevate metabolic rates, encouraging the body's self-organising capabilities, the study said.
It may also trigger an adaptive immune system response.
"Put simply, the self-defence system becomes more resilient," Hu explained.
"Hormones conducive to tissue repair and regeneration may be released and promote the self-healing system's functioning."
Physical exercise can improve blood circulation, expedite nutrient transport and aid waste elimination to maintain self-healing, and moderate exercise is beneficial to the bones, muscles and joints in addition to supporting the body's anti-wear-and-tear system, Hu said.
Tourism's anti-ageing benefits
Australians are well versed in the mental health benefits of time off work, with an ever increasing number of companies writing doona days into their employment contracts and a hot topic.
But its anti-ageing benefits are revealed in the world-first study applying the theory of entropy — a trend towards death — to tourism.
"Tourism is a part of a healthy lifestyle that can potentially contribute to physical and mental health and promote healthy ageing," Hu said.
"Travelling, you can immerse yourself in a new environment — especially therapeutic landscapes like forests and beaches — and they can help reduce stress and improve people's mental wellbeing."
The world's first study applying entropy theory to tourism has revealed travelling's anti-ageing benefits. Source: Moment RF / Colton Stiffler/Getty Images
"Travelling can promote physical activity, like walking, hiking, cycling — many activities that can enhance people's cardiovascular health, metabolism, muscle strains and many other aspects of body functionality," Hu said.
"[It] can force us into interaction — interaction with other tourists, interaction with locals, or even animals can improve their moods. It can reduce the feelings of loneliness and can improve cognitive function. Travel can even improve healthy eating — trying fresh and local food."
Of course, not everything about travel is enjoyable or relaxing. Who hasn't missed a connection, eaten something that's made them ill or stood waiting for a missing suitcase at the luggage carousel?
"Only positive tourism experiences can have potential health benefits," Hu said.
"Negative ones can lead to health impairment."
But that doesn't mean there's a "one-size-fits-all" approach to a successful holiday.
Different people have different expectations and different needs and must weigh up their financial, health and access requirements before booking a trip.
There is no need to spend big, Hu said.
"Even weekend trips can have a potential health benefit. It depends on people's situations."
What other factors can slow ageing?
In recent years, various research studies have analysed the factors that could keep people younger.
There are eight health measures that can slow ageing, according to analysis presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2023.
It said that keeping body weight, blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure in check were key.
A healthy sleep regime and diet, regular physical activity and not smoking were the other factors, the research suggested.
Socialising can also keep your brain young and help to , a 2022 study by UNSW's Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing found.
"Better social connection structure and quality, but not function, were associated with slower rates of cognitive decline," it said.
