Taking a holiday is good for you
Research has been carried out recently to prove what everyone already knows that taking a holiday is good for us. The Holiday Health Experiment was conducted by an international tour operator alongside Nuffield Health, the UK’s largest healthcare charity with 12 volunteers undergoing the assessment.
The Holiday Health Experiment took place in the Summer of 2012 and assessed the sleep patterns, resilience to stress and carried out psychotherapeutic tests on 12 volunteers as well as providing dietary and lifestyle advice. Half of the group were sent on a 2 week holiday abroad while the remainder stayed at home. The results have shown that holidays not only make you feel good whilst you’re in the resort but you also reap the health benefits for months after you have returned home.
The research has shown that jetting off to exotic worldwide destinations such as The Maldives , lowers your blood pressure, helps you to sleep better and improves your ability to bounce back from stressful events in your life. These fabulous feelings can last for at least a fortnight longer than the holiday and can continue for months in some cases. Health Experts reckon that this research only goes to show that workers should always take their full holiday entitlement to make sure that they reap all the benefits.
The Holiday Health Experiment focused on holidaymakers who visited Thailand, Peru or The Maldives and compared their results with people who stayed at home. The results showed that average blood pressure dropped by 6% for holidaymakers compared to a 2% rise for those who continued working. Sleep patterns for holidaymakers also improved by 17% compared to a drop of 14% for non-holidaymakers. These tests have also shown that holidaymakers will see a fall in blood glucose levels, reduce the risk of diabetes, trimmer waistlines and enhanced mood & energy levels.
So there you have it, taking an escorted tour to somewhere outside of the UK such as to Europe or another destination in the world really is good for your health. Now is definitely the time to consider where you wish to go for your annual summer break and who knows you could make a saving or two in the process!