Forget about expensive skin creams and questionable fitness fads, the fountain of youth may have been hiding inside your suitcase this whole time.
Researchers from Edith Cowan University in Australia say travel could be the best way to defy premature aging. According to a study published in the Journal of Travel Research, travel and tourism can actually help slow down your biological clock.
"Aging, as a process, is irreversible. While it can't be stopped, it can be slowed down," study author Fangli Hu said in a statement.
The study applies the theory of entropy to tourism. According to the university, entropy is classified as the general trend of the universe towards death and disorder. The entropy perspective suggests that tourism could trigger entropy changes, where positive experiences could enhance an individual's physical and mental wellness through exposure to novel environments, engagement in physical activities and social interaction, and the fostering of positive emotions.
"Tourism isn't just about leisure and recreation. It could also contribute to people's physical and mental health," Hu said.
The study suggests that travel experiences may help the body sustain a low-entropy state by regulating its four major systems.
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"Leisurely travel activities might help alleviate chronic stress, dampen overactivation of the immune system, and encourage normal functioning of the self-defense system," Hu explained. "Engaging in recreation potentially releases tension and fatigue in the muscles and joints. This relief helps maintain the body's metabolic balance and increases the anti–wear-and-tear system's effectiveness. Organs and tissues can then remain in a low-entropy state."
"Put simply, the self-defense system becomes more resilient," Hu added. "Hormones conducive to tissue repair and regeneration may be released and promote the self-healing system's functioning."
Travel often encompasses physical activities such as hiking, climbing, walking and cycling. Physical exertion can boost metabolism, energy expenditure, and material transformation, all of which help coordinate self-organizing systems the study noted.
"Participating in these activities could enhance the body’s immune function and self-defense capabilities, bolstering its hardiness to external risks. Physical exercise may also improve blood circulation, expedite nutrient transport, and aid waste elimination to collectively maintain an active self-healing system. Moderate exercise is beneficial to the bones, muscles, and joints in addition to supporting the body's anti–wear-and-tear system," Hu said.
It doesn't go without some risk, however. Researchers noted that tourists could face challenges such as infectious diseases, accidents, injuries, violence, water and food safety issues and other concerns.
"Conversely, tourism can involve negative experiences that potentially lead to health problems, paralleling the process of promoting entropy increase," Hu said. "A prominent example is the public health crisis of COVID-19."
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