Does this title come to you as a surprise?

You must have found for sure hundreds of articles about the health dangers of traveling. From diarrhea to mosquitoes to infectious diseases, you have learned how to prepare and what to avoid to stay safe underway.

Very rarely the focus is on the health benefits of traveling. Therefore I wanted to address how traveling can boost your immune system and help improving your health. Specially for children, traveling can be quite beneficial.

The most obvious and immediate advantage is stress relief. When you’re exploring a new place and experiencing new things, your mind disconnects from work or home-related stresses. In particular, if you come to extended contact with nature, your body will let go of all the negative hormones that have been pilling up due to stress, anxiety or insufficient rest. You will sleep better, your skin will look fresher, and you’ll have more energy.

Also, new smells, new languages and new environments will stimulate your brain, improve your synapses and contribute to an improved brain health.

Trying different types of food and cooking styles is good for your gut. The more diverse our diet is, the healthier our gut will be in the long run. And the gut is home to a vast ecosystem of beneficial bacteria which helps digest food, and supports the brain, the heart and the immune system. Today’s industrialized and undiversified food damages the community of helpful microbes living inside us. You will notice that the more you travel, the stronger your digestive system will become and the better your body will function.

Getting in contact with people and animals from various parts of the world will improve your immune system and will make you more resistant to disease. As you are exposed to different bacteria, your body develops new antibodies and increases the number of T cells. These cells originate in the bone marrow and play a vital role in our adaptive immunity.

Children naturally enjoy getting dirty and like to share things with each other. Don’t be too strict about cleaning and sanitation. Although it is important to wash hands before eating, exposure to dirt is beneficial to your kids as it strengthens their immune system in a gentle, unnoticeable way. In the long run, they will get ill less often and become healthier adults.

Note: I am not a doctor and this article does not intend to provide medical advice. If you or your child have a special condition, consult your physician before traveling.