Travel May Combat Premature Aging
Researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) suggest that travel might be more effective than retinol night creams in fighting premature aging. According to their interdisciplinary study, travel has various health benefits, including slowing down the signs of aging by applying the theory of entropy to tourism for the first time. Entropy, defined as the universe's gradual move towards disorder, may be mitigated by the positive experiences travel provides. This is prepared by SSP.
"The aging process is irreversible, but it can be decelerated," stated ECU PhD candidate Ms. Fangli Hu. Positive travel experiences can enhance physical and mental wellness by exposing individuals to new environments, engaging them in physical activity, fostering positive emotions, and facilitating social interaction—practices acknowledged through wellness, health, and yoga tourism.
Travel Therapy: A New Health Intervention
Viewing through an entropy lens, travel therapy could serve as a revolutionary health intervention. Positive travel experiences aid in maintaining a low-entropy state by modulating the body's major systems. Touring new, relaxing settings stimulates stress responses, boosts metabolic rates, positively impacts metabolism, and enhances self-organizing capabilities. These settings also trigger adaptive immune responses.
"This reaction makes the body more resilient," Hu explained, noting that beneficial hormones conducive to tissue repair are released, promoting the body’s self-healing functions. Leisure activities alleviate chronic stress and overactive immune responses, encouraging normal self-defense system functions. Muscle and joint relaxation help maintain metabolic balance and enhance anti-wear-and-tear mechanisms, thus keeping organs and tissues in a low-entropy state.
Physical Activities and Safety Concerns
Travel entails physical exertions like hiking, climbing, walking, and cycling, which enhance immune functions and self-defense capabilities while improving blood circulation, nutrient transport, and waste elimination, maintaining an active self-healing system. Yet, travel isn't devoid of risk. Challenges include potential exposure to infectious diseases, accidents, violence, and food or water safety issues. Negative experiences during travel can contribute to increased entropy and health problems, exemplified by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"While the aging process can't be halted, it's good to know that strategic travel can encourage physical and mental well-being, enhancing the body’s resilience to aging," Ms. Hu concluded.