5 Health Hacks for Staying Well On-the-Go
Travel is an essential part of my life and something I value greatly. With family and friends all around the country it feels like I am on a plane or train every other month. Traveling can invigorate our lives, souls and inspire us to get out of our comfort zone. However, with changes in altitude, time zones, routine and exposure to recycled plane air and dirty airports, this can take a toll on our body.
This combination of factors, in addition to varying sleep patterns and food indulgences, can leave our digestive systems and energy levels of balance.
Today I wanted to share some of my travel tips for staying healthy and energized when you’re on-the-go. I’ve used these tips on every kind of travel from an extended European foray to a quick weekend getaway hours from home. These tips are simple, take minimal time to do and can make a positive impact on your body, health and ability to fully enjoy your trip.
Drink LOTS of water. When we travel, especially by air, the recycled air in the cabin and high altitudes easily dehydrate us leading to symptoms like headaches and fatigue. I always keep a large water bottle in hand and even pack an empty water bottle in my suitcase as a reminder to fill up and stay hydrated. While in nutrition school I learned one of my favorite equations for staying hydrated which is to aim to drink half of your body weight in ounces of water per day, it never fails!
Keep your hands clean. We know this from flu season advertisements but washing your hands is one of the best ways to ward off the common cold. It is no different when you travel and are exposed to extra germs in tight quarters like in the cabin of an airplane. Nowadays I never leave home without baby wipes so that's a good option too. Warm water plus 20-30 seconds of lathering will do the trick!
Bring your own healthy snacks. I always travel with my favorite organic oatmeal packets, homemade trail mix and energy bars for a healthy and nutritious meal or snack at any time. Most airlines also allow you to bring hard boiled eggs, fruit and vegetable sticks which make great travel snacks.
Don’t skip your greens. Chances are when you travel you’re not reaching for the green salad at lunch, you’d rather indulge in the local cuisine. Before I leave I always stock up on my favorite powdered microgreens in single serving packets that are great to throw in your bag, from my local health food store. They’re full of vitamins, mineral and fiber to keep your immune-system boosted and your energy levels high throughout the day. That way you can always sneak in your fruits and vegetables in between travel indulgences without feeling all of the way out of balance. I love the Amazing Grass single serve packets that you can quickly mix with water.
Combat bloat and irregularity with probiotics. Due to a combination of the travel elements many of us experience bloat, irregularity and fatigue while travelling. To combat those symptoms, travel with a high quality room temperature stable probiotic that you can find at your local health food store or online. Always consult your physician before taking supplements of any kind.
Remain Active. When visiting a new city I love to find ways to stay moving. Whether it is exploring a local hike like Diamondhead on Oahu, HI, or walking the streets of Rome after a 16 hour travel day I try to get my body moving. It not only helps to combat jet leg but it helps keep you regular, feeling good and adjust quickly.
So the next time you’re planning a trip spend some time thinking ahead about how you will stay healthy on-the-go and you’ll reap the rewards of feeling well and staying healthy so all of your attention can be spent on your company and new environment.