A holiday can keep us young

Travel broadens the mind, they say—but it can also keep us young.

A great holiday with lots of positive experiences could slow our mental and physical decline as we get older, researchers from Edith Cowan University in Australia have found.

Exploring new places, staying active and connecting with others can boost immunity and metabolism, but a stressful holiday—endless waits at airport or luggage getting lost, for instance—can have a negative effect, and can even speed the ageing process.

Travel may improve wellbeing by opening up new environments, encouraging movement, increasing social interaction, and creating positive emotions, and these positives are especially prevalent in specialist holidays such as health and wellness tourism and yoga retreats.

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