Staying Healthy on the Road
Traveling seems to knock everyone out of sync. Disruptive sleep patterns, changing time zones, unhealthy food or new foods (especially lack of fiber), dehydration and stress often contribute to travelers’ digestive discomfort.
Making smart eating choices when you’re away
- In a restaurant, ask the waiter questions about the menu to help you make smart food choices. Before leaving call ahead to the restaurant to see what the chef can do to make your meal gut-friendly.
- For a long stay, find a local store to stock up on some favorite foods.
- When traveling to a non-English speaking country, search the internet in order to translate a list of your food preferences and intolerances prior to your departure.
Keep exercise in your day even if your routine changes
- Pick a hotel that caters to your well-being. Today, many have gyms, saunas and/or pools.
- Download an app or bring a DVD with Yoga, Pilates or stretching exercises such as T’ai Chi to use in your room.
- It’s not stress itself, but how you handle it. Find ways to unwind that work for you like visualization or quiet time for yourself.
Create your own good gut travel kit
This will pass any security checkpoint – it’s a handy collection of natural remedies for an on-the-go lifestyle. This “nutritious prescription” tackles common digestive health problems. You can take it on the plane, in your gym bag or car. It includes:
- Sunsweet® Ones™: Prunes can help maintain digestive health and regulates the digestive system; provides important vitamins and minerals, including potassium, magnesium and fiber.
- Chamomile Tea: Settles the stomach and reduces cramps.
- Raspberry Leaf Tea: Helps with diarrhea.
- Crystalized Ginger or Ginger Capsules: Helps control nausea.
Source: A portion of this material is taken from the book entitled American Dietetic Association Guide to Better Digestion; Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD
