Eight Strategies to Stay Healthy During Summer Travel

The only thing worse than feeling sick is feeling sick while traveling. No one wants to get sick during their summer travels, so every summer I help families prep for trips around the globe. Here are eight tips to stay healthy while exploring unique environments.
 

  1. Hydration: Hydration is mandatory for immunity and skin health. Try hot, decaffeinated tea and avoid coffee or colas when flying, which can dehydrate you and make you susceptible to viruses. I travel with special hydration tablets that I add to my water when I fly. Summer travel usually includes hot days in the sun, and libations where it easy to get dehydrated. Dehydration tablets will get you back on your feet, so you don’t lose a day of vacation.
     
  2. Carry On Any Vitamins and Supplements: Start taking vitamin C before your trip and keep it up the entire duration of your travel. I recommend bringing a bag of vitamins, cough drops, and herbal teas so you have everything at your fingertips if needed. Remember to keep all your medication in your carry-on in case your checked luggage is lost.  
     
  3. Bring Probiotics: Probiotics are key when traveling. Try finding one that does not need to be refrigerated and start taking them on your flight. Probiotics are essential to good health, immunity, and digestive health, supplying good bacteria essential for gut health. Taking probiotics regularly can help avoid stomach issues, urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and keep your skin looking good.  
     
  4. Keep Moving: Try wearing loose clothing on the plane, and avoid stuffing under the seat in front of you with your personal belongings to give yourself some extra leg room. Try and stretch every 20 minutes in your chair or walk around the airplane every hour. Light exercise after landing helps get your blood moving, especially after a sitting in airports and airplanes all day. 
     
  5. Pack a Scarf or Mask: Pack several scarves inside your purse or carry-on to wrap loosely around your neck, nose, and mouth. Creating a physical barrier around you nose and mouth reduces your chances of getting sick, minimizes the germs and bacteria entering your respiratory system. These are also perfect for unexpected cold air conditioning as well. 
     
  6. Ginger and Peppermint: Ginger candies help avoid nausea, vomiting, gas, bloating, bad breath, and airsickness. I also like peppermint for overeating, indigestion, and heartburn. 
     
  7. Pack Food and Snacks: Airplane food is high in sodium, preservatives, and lacks nutrition. I recommend packing your own food while traveling and having light, portable snacks for flying and ground travel. Just say no to the airplane nuts and chips when flying—unless you want to wake up the next day five pounds heavier from all the salt. 
     
  8. Avoid Jet Lag: For jet lag, try herbal hot tea after landing to get your digestion moving. Exposure to sunlight, dusk, and dawn will help you make serotonin and melatonin which help regulate sleep cycles. If necessary, take a small dose of melatonin the first few nights you arrive and the same upon your return. 


Traveling is a wonderful experience to see the world that can also trigger new issues with our immune systems, but utilizing some of these tips will keep you healthier so you can have the best trip possible. Share your travel tips with us! We're on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

 

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