As it turned September yesterday we couldn’t help but feel a little glum. With the prospect of beer gardens, endless barbecues and obligatory after work drinks (you know, just to make the most of the sun) quickly becoming a distant memory.
But what if we told you that we have found the perfect excuse for you to jump straight back onto a plane? Yes, seriously.
According to a new study conducted by scientists from the Icahn School of Medicine, University of California and Harvard, holidays are proven to be good for our health.
And although previous studies have of course indicated that getaways are beneficial for our mental wellbeing, this is the first study to ever prove that they can have long term effects.
The results indicated that just six days out of the office can have the ability to boost the immune system, reduce stress and lower levels of proteins linked to depression.
And that’s not even the best news, as these health benefits are proven to last a whole month after your getaway. We’ll be pitching this newfound research to our boss…
Dr Elissa Epel, first author of the study said, ‘It’s intuitive that taking a holiday reduces biological processes related to stress, but it was still impressive to see the large changes in gene expression from being away from the busy pace of life, in a relaxing environment, in such a short period of time.’
The study involved 94 women aged between 30 and 60 who stayed at a meditation retreat in California for six days. Half of the participants were told to just relax whilst the others practiced yoga and meditation.
The aim was to find out whether a meditation based holiday or simple break would have more of an effect on our health. And results indicated that both groups showed significant changes in molecular patterns with positive changes in stress and immune systems.
Dr Rudolph Tanzi, Professor of Neurology at Harvard University said, 'Meditation is one of the ways to engage in restorative activities that may provide relief for our immune systems, easing the day-to-day stress of a body constantly trying to protect itself. The prediction is that this would then lead to healthier ageing.'
Yet another excuse for an Eat Pray Love style escape we think.
So we don’t know about you but we’ll be getting on Skyscanner ASAP. It's for the good of our health after all...
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