Travel Tips: Staying Healthy

This is something I can definitely talk and write about. I have the immune system of a newborn child and I would most likely get voted in my group of friends as the most likely to get ill. It’s a bit brutal, but the key is preparing yourself, especially if you’re traveling. Throughout the first couple months of my trip, I’ve been blessed with a couple rounds of food poisoning and a flu that just doesn’t seem to want to go away. Here are a few tips on staying healthy while traveling and what to do when you are ill!

Staying Healthy

1. CHOOSE FOODS THAT NOURISH YOUR BODY WHEN YOU CAN

   I get that it’s hard to always feed your body the right things, especially on the road when a pack of crisps and a stack of Oreos sound so much better, but try mixing in a banana or orange for the Vitamin C to take with you. It sounds small, but it might help make a difference when your body is craving nutrients. Same goes for choosing your main meals, it’s important to also have enough protein, fiber, vegetables and nutrients so that your body has an immune system to start with!

2. GET A BIT OF EXERCISE IN

   Now, this doesn’t mean you need to go running every day, or choose the crazy active treks, but it does mean that you should take the 15 minutes to walk somewhere instead of taking a Grab or Uber transport. No doubt you’re walking everywhere already, but don’t forget to push yourself once and awhile, maybe take a class and get your heart racing. I try and take a yoga class wherever I am staying. It’s a great way to get the blood moving and get a bit of exercise in.

3. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY

   You aren’t invincible and you certainly are not when you’re traveling either. You’re being exposed to all these new people, new allergens, new sickness that everyone carries with them, taking places that only has recycled air, the works. It sounds gross, but it’s true. You have to be careful, but also listen to your body when it’s time to rest and take a breather. You can’t go go go everyday if that’s your life for a long period of time. I tend to get sick fast, and if I don’t listen to my body is only goes downhill from there. I write this recovering from a week long flu.

4. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER

   This sounds very redundant, however it’s really important that you get enough water. Especially in foreign countries where you can’t just get a glass of water from the tap. It’s important to continue to drink as well when you’re sweating it all out, whether from exertion or humidity.

What to do when you get sick.

First off, don’t panic. There is usually a pharmacy nearby and if you are too sick to go to it, you can usually make a friend at the hostel you are at that can help you. If you are in a hotel, most hotel staff also have access to generic drugs, or can help you attain them. My suggestion is to bring with you a host of meds so that in a pinch you at least have a couple days of relief before you can make it to a pharmacy. If you are in more remote areas, that also gives you a chance to make it to a larger city. If you do plan on going to more remote areas, I strongly urge you to bring at least a week long dosage of everything from allergy pills to cold and flu medication. You never know and by preparing ahead of time, you won’t be spending your time miserable in your accommodation.

If things don’t improve with over the counter medicine within a few days, don’t be afraid to go to a local doctor and see what they have to say. It doesn’t hurt to get someone else’s opinion on what’s going on. Whether you take their suggestions and prescriptions is up to you! And, If things get really bad, go to a hospital. There’s no use in suffering, but if it’s something more serious, you do need to get serious help too. Your health isn’t something to joke about, getting really sick could set you back during your trip, or even worse, cut it short entirely.

Take it from someone who has managed to catch something on every trip I’ve ever been on, be prepared and take care of yourself!

Love, E