17 Ways Traveling Will Make You Healthier

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6. Having Fun in the Sun Can Boost Your Immune System

When we travel, we’re much more likely to be outside more, especially when we’re hitting up those tropical paradises during the cold months. From swimming and sunbathing to just walking through the busy streets of Paris, most of us are under the sun more than usual on vacation. And what’s outside that’s good for our health? Yeah, that big globe of fire that sits roughly 150,000,000 kilometers away.

Exposure to the sunshine increases our levels of vitamin D. And what does vitamin D do? It makes our immune system stronger, helps maintain our bones and teeth, and can even fight things like skin cancer and diabetes. But that’s not all.

You know how a lot of people get sick while on vacation? Traveling also exposes us to all kinds of bacteria and diseases, which is actually a good thing. Research has proven that exposure helps teach our immune system how to fight diseases. (Which, incidentally, is the philosophy behind vaccination as well, so don’t forget to get your shots before you hit the road.)