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    HEALTH & WELLNESS                                                         JULY 17, 2026    |  The Indian Eye 40

             Wellness Tourism Surges as Travellers                                                                      UK Woman

                                                                                                                    Found with 38
                         Prefer Health Over Holidays                                                               Brain Parasites

                     ellness tourism is witness-                                                                    After India Trip
                     ing unprecedented growth
            Was an increasing number                                                                                    42-year-old British woman
            of travellers are replacing tradition-                                                                A
                                                                                                                        has shared her extraordinary
            al sightseeing and shopping-focused                                                                         battle with neurocysticerco-
            vacations with  experiences  centred                                                                  sis, a rare parasitic brain infection,
            on health, mindfulness and holistic                                                                   after doctors discovered 38 parasites
            well-being. Industry experts say the                                                                  in her brain following a trip to India.
            trend reflects a broader shift towards                                                                The woman, Lowri Denman, believes
            purposeful travel, driven by rising                                                                   she contracted the infection during
            health consciousness and changing                                                                     a three-month visit to India in 2007.
            consumer priorities.                                                                                  Her story has drawn international
                Travel operators report  growing                                                                  attention to the disease, which is one
            demand for wellness retreats offering                                                                 of the leading preventable causes of
            yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, digital                                                                   epilepsy worldwide.
            detox programmes, nature immersion                                                                        Denman first noticed something
            and preventive healthcare. Rather                                                                     unusual in 2010 when she passed a
            than packed itineraries, tourists are                                                                 metre-long tapeworm. Although ini-
            increasingly opting for slower, immer-                                                                tial medical tests appeared normal,
            sive experiences that promote physi-  is no longer confined to luxury resorts.   sustainable tourism practices. Industry   her condition worsened over the fol-
            cal and mental rejuvenation.      Hotels, homestays and tour opera-  stakeholders believe this behavioural   lowing  year  with  severe headaches,
                Industry estimates indicate that   tors are expanding their offerings to   shift is encouraging destinations to de-  seizures and speech difficulties. Brain
            wellness tourism is emerging as one   include  fitness  activities,  nutritious   velop infrastructure that balances tour-  scans eventually revealed 38 parasit-
            of  the  fastest-growing  segments  of   cuisine, spa therapies, forest walks,   ism growth with environmental conser-  ic cysts, leading doctors to diagnose
            the global travel industry. The sector   mindfulness sessions and cultural   vation and community well-being.  neurocysticercosis. She underwent
            is being fuelled by travellers seeking   experiences that encourage deeper   With consumers placing greater   years of treatment with anti-parasitic
            stress relief,  improved work-life  bal-  engagement with local communities.   emphasis on preventive healthcare   drugs, steroids and anti-seizure med-
            ance and meaningful experiences af-  Multi-generational families, solo trav-  and mental wellness, experts expect   ication. The illness also caused brain
            ter years of fast-paced lifestyles and   ellers and young professionals are   wellness tourism to remain a key driv-  inflammation, anxiety, psychosis and
            pandemic-induced  health  awareness.   among those driving the demand.  er of the travel industry in the coming   prolonged hospitalisation before she
            Destinations offering integrated well-  The growing popularity of “slow   years.  As  destinations  continue  to   gradually recovered and returned to
            ness programmes, sustainable hospi-  living” has also reshaped traveller   diversify their offerings, wellness-fo-  work in 2022.
            tality and personalised health services   preferences. Visitors are increasingly   cused travel is poised to evolve from a
            are attracting both domestic and in-  choosing longer stays in tranquil desti-  niche segment into a mainstream com-  According to the World Health
            ternational visitors.             nations over rushed itineraries, prior-  ponent  of  global  tourism,  redefining
                Experts note that wellness travel   itising rest, digital disconnection and   the way people experience holidays.  Organization, neurocysticerco-
                                                                                                                  sis is caused by the larvae of the
            Gut Health: Scientists Link Microbiome Changes to Healthy Ageing                                      pork tapeworm, Taenia solium.

                  he gut microbiome undergoes   has been associated with slower di-  develop age-related diseases. Sci-  Infection occurs when micro-
                  significant  changes  after  the   gestion, bloating, weakened immu-  entists believe preserving microbial   scopic tapeworm eggs are ingested
            Tage of 45, potentially influenc-  nity, chronic low-grade inflammation   diversity could improve resilience   through contaminated food, wa-
            ing digestion, immunity, metabolism   and metabolic disorders.      against chronic illnesses and support   ter or poor hygiene. The larvae can
            and overall healthy ageing, according   According to nutrition experts,   healthier ageing trajectories.  travel through the bloodstream and
            to  emerging  scientific  evidence.  Ex-  ageing alone accounts for only a part   Health experts recommend con-  lodge in the brain, where they form
            perts say these changes, while partly   of these changes. Nearly 70 per cent   suming  30–35  grams  of  fibre  daily   cysts that may remain symptom-free
            driven by biology, are largely shaped   of microbiome alterations are linked   through vegetables, fruits, whole   for years before triggering seizures,
            by lifestyle, making midlife a critical   to modifiable factors including diet,   grains and legumes, alongside fer-  headaches or other neurological
            window for preventive action.     physical activity, sleep, stress, medi-  mented foods such as yoghurt, idli   complications.
                The gut microbiome comprising   cation use and chronic illnesses. Di-  and dosa. Regular physical activity,   Medical experts emphasise that
            trillions of bacteria, fungi and other   ets high in ultra-processed foods and   adequate sleep, stress management   the disease is preventable through
            microorganisms plays a vital role in   sugar can accelerate microbial imbal-  and cautious use of antibiotics can   proper sanitation, safe food han-
            nutrient absorption, immune regu-  ance,  whereas  fibre-rich  foods  and   further support gut health.  dling, clean drinking water and good
            lation and maintaining the intestinal   regular exercise help restore healthy   Researchers emphasise that con-  personal hygiene. Denman, who has
            barrier. Research suggests that with   bacterial diversity.         sistent lifestyle changes made during   remained seizure-free since 2017 but
            age, microbial diversity declines,    A recent review in Nature Re-  midlife can help maintain a healthier   continues  lifelong  epilepsy  medica-
            beneficial  bacteria  such  as  Faecali-  views  Endocrinology  highlights  that   microbiome and reduce the risk of   tion, is now sharing her experience
            bacterium and Akkermansia reduce,   the gut microbiome influences mul-  age-related health complications lat-  to spread awareness and encourage
            while potentially harmful microbes   tiple gut-organ pathways and may   er in life.                   early diagnosis of this rare yet poten-
            become more prevalent. This shift   determine  how  individuals  age  and                             tially life-threatening condition.

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