By John Salak –
Willie Nelson is 91 and still going strong. Okay, maybe he’s slowed down a bit of late, but this country singer is still undeniably moving, groovin’ and croonin’—and the reason may be tied up in his lifestyle. No, not Willie’s propensity to grab a joint but rather his constant travel. Just think of his hit mantra: On The Road Again. Read on and learn how constant travel has positive health benefits.
He just can’t wait to get on the road again. Now Australian researchers believe the Willie may have been on to something important. They report that travel could be the best way to defy premature aging.
Researchers from Edith Cowan University claim they’ve undertaken an unprecedented interdisciplinary study that applied the theory of entropy to tourism. They’ve found that travel could have positive health benefits, including slowing down the signs of aging.
Entropy, by the way, is classified as the general trend of the universe towards death and disorder. The Australian researchers suggest that tourism could trigger entropy changes, where positive experiences might mitigate entropy increase and enhance health. Conversely, negative experiences may contribute to entropy increase and compromise health.
“Aging, as a process, is irreversible. While it can’t be stopped, it can be slowed down,” reported Fangli Hu, a PhD candidate at the university.
Positive travel experiences that could undermine entropy include physical and mental wellness through exposure to novel environments; engaging in physical activities and social interaction; and the fostering of positive emotions. These potential benefits have been acknowledged through practices such as wellness tourism, health tourism and yoga tourism, the study noted.
“Tourism isn’t just about leisure and recreation. It could also contribute to people’s physical and mental health,” Hu added.
Travel therapy could become a groundbreaking health initiative when viewed through an entropy lens. Positive travel experiences may even help the body sustain a low-entropy state by modulating its four major systems, the university reports. The possible medical benefits are numerous.
Tourism’s ability to expose people to new surroundings and relaxing activities may be able to stimulate stress responses and elevate metabolic rates, ultimately boosting metabolic activities and the body’s self-organizing capabilities.
It may also trigger an adaptive immune system response. This reaction can help improve the body’s ability to perceive and defend itself against external threats.
“Put simply, the self-defense system becomes more resilient. Hormones conducive to tissue repair and regeneration may be released and promote the self-healing system’s functioning,” Hu explained.
Leisurely travel may also alleviate chronic stress, dampen overactivation of the immune system, and encourage normal functioning of the self-defense system. Beyond this, engaging in recreation can potentially release tension and fatigue in the muscles and joints, helping to maintain the body’s metabolic balance and increase the system’s anti-wear-and-tear effectiveness.
Physical activities such as hiking, climbing, walking and cycling while traveling can lift metabolism, energy expenditure and material transformation, all of which help coordinate self-organizing systems.
“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 added.
Admittedly, travel also has its challenges. The research identified the risk of contracting infectious diseases while touring, while also experiencing accidents, injuries, violence, water and food safety issues.
Precautions, however, can be taken to lessen these risks, allowing the potential benefits of travel to outweigh the drawbacks.
