Protecting your Health on the Go
If you’re like me, staying well while traveling is a priority. After all, you want to enjoy your trip and fully savor your “once-in-a-lifetime” experience with the least hassle without compromising your health. Right now I’m sitting on a plane returning home from my son’s college graduation and want to share my three tips for protecting your wellness on the go.
Immune Support
Travel, especially by air, stresses your immune system. To protect myself and my family, I pack a basic wellness support kit of Vitamin C packets (1,000 mg each), Andrographis – an herb known for its anti-pathogenic properties, and Zinc lozenges. These provide immune support and protection against the pathogens that are often present in crowded conditions … you know, the coughing seatmate on your flight!
Rest and Sleep Support
Since travel disrupts your normal daily rhythm, especially when crossing time zones, proper rest and sleep can be a problem. To address this, I use several strategies. First, to maintain a sense of calm and mindfulness on a flight, I use a smartphone app called Relax Melodies, which allows me to create my own Zen inducing melodies and meditations. I was skeptical when my husband shared this with me, but it really does work.
Second, for jet lag, I recommend a homeopathic remedy, called No-Jet-Lag® from New Zealand and available in many health food stores or online at Amazon. Third, for sleep support, I travel with herbal teas, which work better than any other sleep aids. No kidding! My favorites are Traditional Medicinals’ Chamomile Lavender and Nighty Night. Try them before you travel so you can see which one works the best for you. Note: avoid the chamomile if you have a ragweed allergy.
Clean Eating
Getting healthy, whole food on the go can seem like an almost insurmountable challenge. I pack snacks like apple slices, hard-boiled eggs, carrot and celery sticks, and nuts. At the airport, I either eat at a restaurant or grab a salad to go. Back on the ground, I try to find local fare and quality restaurants by researching my destination with TripAdvisor. You can view the menus and get a good sense of the quality from the reviews.
Parting thoughts
If you support your immune system and take care to manage your rest and food choices by planning ahead, you will be able to fully enjoy all of the “moments” of your trip. Stress and the unpredictability of travel is going to happen anyway … manage what you can.
Leave me a comment below to share with others about your essential wellness travel tip … or let me know which of these I mentioned is most important for you to try the next time you travel.
Until the next time, Bon Voyage!