It might be time to ditch your night creams, researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) discovered that travel could be the best way to delay premature aging. An interdisciplinary study applied the theory of entropy to tourism, revealing that travel could have positive health benefits, including slowing down the signs of aging.1
For those who don't know, entropy is defined as the trend of the universe towards death and disorder. The research found that travel could cause entropy changes, where these experiences have the power to prevent entropy increases and boost overall health. But, this does mean that negative experiences may still contribute to entropy increase and compromise health.
ECU PhD candidate, Ms. Fangli Hu notes that "positive travel experiences can enhance individuals' physical and mental wellness through exposure to novel environments, engagement in physical activities and social interaction and the fostering of positive emotions." These benefits have been found to increase through practices such as wellness tourism, health tourism and yoga tourism.2
Related: The Top 15 Global Travel Trends for 2025
Travel Therapy for Slowing Aging
Travel therapy could be a game changing health intervention, as positive travel experiences can help the body sustain a low-entropy state by affecting its four major systems. Travel often opens people up to new environments, activities and social interactions that can stimulate the stress response and increase metabolic rates, therefore positively influencing metabolic activities and the body's self-organizing capabilities. These reactions can improve someone's ability to defend against external threats.
"Put simply, the self-defense system becomes more resilient," said Ms. Hu. "Hormones conducive to tissue repair and regeneration may be released and promote the self-healing system's functioning."
Ms. Hu also mentioned that leisurely travel activities might help alleviate chronic stress, decrease overactivation of the immune system and encourage normal functioning of the self-defense system. Travel can also release tension and fatigue mentally and physically in the body.
Some of the recommended physical, travel activities that can help slow aging include hiking, climbing, walking and cycling. Physical exertion can boost metabolism, energy expenditure, and material transformation, all of which help coordinate self-organizing systems.3
The research did caution that while travel holds potential for slowing the affects of aging, travelers are also more exposed to infectious diseases, accidents, injuries, violence, water and food safety issues, and concerns related to inappropriate tourism engagement. Safe and mindful travel is encouraged when engaging in tourism practices.
References:
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240905121025.htm
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240905121025.htm
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240905121025.htm
