The fact that travelling abroad offers a number of exciting health benefits is easily understandable. More people are choosing to take a well-deserved break from their domestic life and make the most of their holiday by experiencing the beauty and charm of another country in addition to getting some much-needed rest and relaxation. If you are looking for ways to make your holiday a lot more worthwhile, read on for some tips on travelling abroad that will show you the best ways to benefit from these benefits.
Travelling reduces stress – One of the major health benefits of travelling is that it drastically lowers the risk of depression. In fact, researchers found that people who travelled internationally were less likely to be depressed, anxious or prone to panic attacks than those who stayed within their domestic country. This benefit becomes even more apparent when you realise that travelling actually increases your chances of reducing stress levels, which is also known to lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Variety is your friend – If you are used to sticking to the same routine day in and day out, it’s time to change the pattern. Instead of sticking to the same food, watching the same TV shows, and going to the same places, try introducing a new adventure into your lifestyle. Go travelling once every couple of months instead of once every year; explore a new culture and get introduced to a new environment. Your body will crave that change and will find it a welcome one when you get back home.
Your mental well-being is improved – Travelling abroad can be an eye-opening experience. It allows you to be far away from the familiar, and forces you to consider issues that might otherwise have been overlooked. Your mental well-being can improve significantly when you stop putting so much importance on what others think and start to value your own opinion. When you come back home, you will feel happier, less stressed and more able to take life’s opportunities with both feet.
Improved immune system – When you are travelling you get to experience new and different environments, which is ideal for improving your immune system. Your body gets to fight off diseases and bacteria on its own and learn to cope with stress on its own terms. Travelling is also great exercise, which helps you maintain a fit body. Exercise releases endorphins, which are great at fighting stress and anxiety. A strong immune system means that you can battle infection and illness with greater ease.
Lessens cortisol levels – Stress is known to increase cortisol levels, which are the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response. This response, when combined with high blood pressure, heightens the heart rate, reduces blood flow to the head and causes other uncomfortable side effects such as headaches, anxiety and muscle tension. However, when you are travelling, you are exposed to less stressful situations and therefore have lower blood pressure, thus reducing the amount of cortisol released. This can have a positive effect on your mental and physical health.
