Along with all the excitement and fun of visiting new places and spending time with family and friends, travel can also be somewhat of a physical challenge on the body. With long days, busy schedules, irregular meals and exposure to new bacteria and viruses, traveling often includes some form of digestive distress, bloating, illness or trouble sleeping.
But don’t worry, here are a few simple wellness tips that can help you to limit these physical effects and stay healthy whilst travelling:
Staying properly hydrated is one of the simplest yet most effective ways you can ward off the physical stress of travel.
Proper hydration aids digestion, reduces bloating and helps keep your immune system healthy.
While traveling, aim to drink more water than you usually would each day. I find it helpful to travel with a large reusable water bottle or, if you’re somewhere tap water is not an option, stock up on bottled water whenever you have the chance.
2. Boost gut health with a daily probiotic
I never travel without my probiotic supplements. They are particularly helpful for a couple of reasons: they boost your immunity and keep your digestive system healthy and happy especially when you're not sticking to your usual eating habits and possibly exposing your digestive system to new foods and microbes. (Learn more about them here)
I never travel without my probiotic supplements. They are particularly helpful for a couple of reasons: they boost your immunity and keep your digestive system healthy and happy especially when you're not sticking to your usual eating habits and possibly exposing your digestive system to new foods and microbes. (Learn more about them here)
3. Keep your hands clean with natural hand sanitizer
Travelling on public transportation exposes us to new germs that we may not yet have immunity to, so our chances of getting sick increase. However, airborne pathogens (like the common cold and flu) are viral, not bacterial, so traditional anti-bacterial soaps and sanitizers don’t really protect against them.
Regardless, we should always be keeping our hands clean (especially before eating) so another must-have item in my bag will be a hand sanitizer. Here is one of my favourites because it's antibacterial and certified organic—without synthetic thickeners or preservatives that comes in conventional hand sanitizers and smells amazing.
Travelling on public transportation exposes us to new germs that we may not yet have immunity to, so our chances of getting sick increase. However, airborne pathogens (like the common cold and flu) are viral, not bacterial, so traditional anti-bacterial soaps and sanitizers don’t really protect against them.
Regardless, we should always be keeping our hands clean (especially before eating) so another must-have item in my bag will be a hand sanitizer. Here is one of my favourites because it's antibacterial and certified organic—without synthetic thickeners or preservatives that comes in conventional hand sanitizers and smells amazing.
4. Pack healthy snack
Travel days tend to mean limited food options and processed snacks. Plan ahead by preparing travel-friendly healthy snacks in advance. Think: high protein (curbs hunger and holds you over between meals) and fibre (keeps your digestion and elimination regular).
Some of my favourite healthy travel snacks are:
If you have been following me for a while, you would have seen that I talk alot about how important sleep is to our overall physical and mental health. Proper sleep will not only help keep your immunity and digestion healthy, it will also help to keep your stress levels at bay. Travel is not known for being very kind to our sleep patterns so it's vital that you try to set yourself up for good sleep. Check out my blog post on how to manage and cope with jet lag. Melatonin supplements can also be used to help overcome jet lag, however, please ask your doctor about the appropriate dose for your needs.
Travel days tend to mean limited food options and processed snacks. Plan ahead by preparing travel-friendly healthy snacks in advance. Think: high protein (curbs hunger and holds you over between meals) and fibre (keeps your digestion and elimination regular).
Some of my favourite healthy travel snacks are:
- Trail mix (create your own with your favorite combination of dried fruits and nuts)
- Raw fruit like apples, oranges, banana
- Raw veggies like sliced cucumber, carrot sticks, bell pepper, etc.
- Homemade energy balls/bars (here are some of my recipes: Almond and Hemp Energy Bites, Chocolate Hazelnut Balls)
5. Set yourself up for good sleep
If you have been following me for a while, you would have seen that I talk alot about how important sleep is to our overall physical and mental health. Proper sleep will not only help keep your immunity and digestion healthy, it will also help to keep your stress levels at bay. Travel is not known for being very kind to our sleep patterns so it's vital that you try to set yourself up for good sleep. Check out my blog post on how to manage and cope with jet lag. Melatonin supplements can also be used to help overcome jet lag, however, please ask your doctor about the appropriate dose for your needs.
Caffeine and alcohol are known to be significant sleep disruptors so be mindful of consumption if you’re having trouble sleeping. Here are some quick tips for better sleep, which could be helpful to keep in mind if you struggle with sleep while traveling.
I hope you have found this useful and let me know some of your healthy travelling tips too! For those of you who will be on your summer holidays soon, safe travels.
With love,
*Medical Disclaimer: The following content should not be used as medical advice or as a recommendation for any specific supplement or medication. It is important to consult your health care provider prior to starting a new medication or altering your current dosage.
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