Taking care of your health while traveling.
One of the things that irks me a little about plane travel are the helpful suggestions that the airlines’ inflight magazines and safety videos give on how to do simple exercises while flying to prevent deep-vein thrombosis. I’m always flying economy, so there is barely enough room to open the magazine let alone extend my legs and rotate my ankles! However the principle itself is fairly sound – there are things we do and don’t do while travelling that can have a big impact on our health and whether we enjoy the trip or not. In this article I’m going to share some of my thoughts on how to take care of your health while travelling.
Be careful what you eat!
One of the easy mistakes to make is to throw out all of your normal dietary rules while you’re on holiday because you are out of your normal routine. While it is important for you to relax and enjoy yourself, try and keep things in perspective and enjoy things in moderation. Fried greasy food and food high in sugar are just as bad for your health wherever in the world you eat them. You should definitely treat yourself, but make sure that they are treats and you are sampling the best that your destination has to offer. The best ice-cream, the best fish and chips, the best churros and hot chocolate. You’ve worked hard to get trimmed down for the Summer – don’t throw it all away on bad food!
Breakfast buffets included in the price of my accommodation have been my downfall in the past til very recently. So many times I loaded up my plate/s with different offerings only to find that half of them didn’t taste that great. Because I don’t like wasting food I’d feel compelled to eat it all anyway. Now I sample things that look good first and then I try not to take too much, knowing that I can always go back for seconds if I really like it. In cheaper hotels I tend to stick to my home routine of rolled oats because I find the pastries and other baked goods in theses budget hotels are often stale.
From a food safety perspective always wash your hands or use sanitizer before eating. Think of all the gross things you’ve been touching over the last few hours e.g door knobs, railings, money etc. Especially when travelling in developing countries only eat fruit that you can peel or wash with bottled water first. Eats at restaurants and street stalls that look to be popular with the locals – if the locals are repeat customers the the chances are that the food is safe. Look at the hygiene of the street food stall. If the chef is using a filthy dish cloth to wipe his/her surfaces then give it a miss.
Don’t drink too much!
When you are on holidays it is tempting to crack open a bottle of wine or a beer as soon as the clock strikes midday (or before – Bloody Mary for breakfast anyone?), but the more you drink the less energy you will have for exploring your destination and the more likely you are to make bad choices. Make an effort to sample local drinks and enjoy them in moderation. Whether it is some fino sherry with your tapas; some sake with your sushi; or some chablis with your bouillabaisse, alcohol should enhance your enjoyment of the moment, not diminish it!
Drink plenty of water, especially if you are travelling in hot countries. I have had so many dehydration headaches over the years from not pushing the fluids when I’m out being active in the sun. Don’t drink the local tap water unless you are sure it’s safe, and same goes for ice. When buying bottled water check that the seal on the bottle hasn’t been broken.
Take Appropriate Clothing
Do a little research on the season and weather conditions of where you are travelling.
Take a light coloured long sleeved top and long pair of pants to wear at dawn and dusk if your travelling somewhere that has mosquitos, especially areas that have Malaria or Dengue. Apply some insect repellant to your exposed feet, ankles, wrists as well. The repellant should preferably contain 30% + of DEET, which works by stopping the mosqitos from smelling you! It is safe for children.
Take a wide brim hat to protect your face and neck from the sun. I hate wearing suntan lotion but I now wish I’d been diligent at applying it over the years. I got a Basal Cell Carcinoma (skin cancer, fortunately superficial) on my shoulder last year and I’ve since had another on my forehead. I recently found a non-greasy SPF 30+ formula that I like and I have been better at putting it on.
As well as preventing skin cancer, a hat and suntan lotion will prevent painful sunburn and blisters that can really ruin your holiday.
Stay active!
While it may be tempting to spend your entire holiday lounging by the pool, keeping active will help keep your energy levels up and ensure that you are burning off all of the good food that you are eating. This doesn’t mean that you have to lock yourself away in the hotel gym or go running every morning, but make sure that you are doing something each day that gets you up and about and getting the heart pumping while you enjoy whatever experiences your destination offers.
You should always feel invigorated, energized, and inspired when you return from your holidays. By taking a few simple steps you can ensure that you’ve not only had an amazing experience but that you’ve also taken care of your health at the same time.
Image by Kelly Sue DeConnick under Creative Commons license.
