Study shows frequent travelers live longer

Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, South Africa conducted a study that shows that frequent holidaying can decrease chances of heart disease and depression, whilst also improving the overall health of the brain. The study particularly stresses the positive effect of travel on older generations, encouraging people to travel as they grow older, recommending it as a way to stay active and mentally stimulated. The study showed that not taking an annual holiday increased the chances of death by 20%, and increased chances of heart disease by 30% in men over 25 years. As for women, the study proved that women who vacationed once in six years were at significantly higher risk of a heart attack when compared with women who vacationed at least twice a year.
The study also showed that although people dream big about their future holiday plans, they are often ill prepared to finance and realise these dreams. That's because the majority of surveyed travellers do not make the connection between travel and longer-term health benefits. They are most likely to cite time with family and friends, eating well, making time for things they love, and staying physically active as drivers of longterm health and wellness.
But travel is an equally important factor if your goal is staying healthy and living a good life. Plus, travel grants you the opportunity to do all of the above priorities - like spending quality time with family, being active and eating well - all while looking after your own mental health too.
"Travel ranks as one of the top two goals for retirement, rivaling spending time with friends and family," the study found. "People see that travel provides them with a range of benefits, from improving their mood and lessening their stress to deepening their connections with other people. Travel is seen as important for enjoying life, and generally worth saving for."

Curled from Traveller24