How to Stay Healthy While Traveling – The Voluntourist Tips
Getting sick on vacation isn’t fun so it’s important to take as many precautions as possible beforehand. While you may already live a pretty healthy lifestyle, chances are when you travel you’ll be in contact with someone has a cold or the flu and are contagious–especially now since the flu is so rampant.
There are countless ways to be exposed to illness like when people cough without covering their mouth or not washing their hands after using the restroom and touching things you would afterwards.
It’s gross, not considerate and just not cool. So here’s a few things you can do to avoid getting sick.
1.Boost your immune system.
There are several ways to do this. Some load up on vitamin C, others take probiotics, Airborne or Emergen-C regularly. I go to my local juice bar and do wellness shots the week before I’m traveling. I do a two ounce shot of lemon, ginger, garlic, cayenne pepper almost daily.
***To save money, you can make this at home yourself.
2. Do a juice cleanse
The Organic Living Juice Cleanse supplies your body with nutrients, vitamins, and live enzymes. It’s a natural self healing aid that gets rid of harmful toxins and increases energy levels, reduces inflammation and bloating and improves overall health. There are so many amazing benefits to doing this cleanse and it’s a great way to drop a few pound before your vacation. All Living juices are made with certified organic fruits and vegetables and no sugar is added. You can’t get any healthier than that! For delivery options check out their site.
3. Bring a face mask
I know it’s not attractive or stylish, but considering how 53 people have died just this year alone from the flu, wear the mask if you get sick easily or have an auto immune disease.
4. Pack wipes and hand sanitizer
You have no idea who touched the doorknob, menu, your luggage, ATM machine or other things before you. To be on the safe side, wipe everything before you handle it and keep your hands clean at all times.
5. Bring your own pillow and blanket
You’ll know it’s clean and where it’s been. Enough said.
6. Treat public bathrooms like germ pools
Do not put your purse or bag on the floor. Do not sit on the toilet and when flushing close the lid to minimize the spray back. Wash your hands for a full 20 seconds with warm water and soap. Use the paper towel to open the door so you don’t have to touch it.
7. Wear socks when going through airport security
You can easily pick something up on your feet that can be transmitted to your hands when you put your shoes back on and you can touch your face without realizing it. So just wear socks.
8. Pay attention to the aisle seats and armrests
When people exit the restroom, their hands may not be clean. So if they touch the headrests of the aisle seats as they walk by, you don’t want to be near that. Same with the armrest you’re sharing with someone. How do you know if they washed their hands? So refrain from using it if possible.
9. Don’t use the backseat pocket
Cleaning crews don’t have much time in between passengers to disinfect every tray table, seat back, digital screen and widow. Cold and flu viruses can live on hard surfaces for up to 48 hours. So wipe everything down and don’t use the backseat pocket because you don’t know what the other person before you used it for. A dirty diaper? Used tissue? Who knows.
10. Drink water
Sure cocktails are nice and help you relax on a flight, but you need plenty of water because you can get dehydrated easier at high altitudes. You can experience headaches and dizziness if you don’t drink enough water. So have one adult beverage and chug the water.
Other helpful tips
Stretch and keep moving. On long flights you can be more susceptible to poor circulation, which can lead to blood clots. I always wear compression socks to prevent my legs from swelling. It helps.
Your body will be tired from traveling, so eat healthy and walk as much as possible once you arrive to your destination to keep up your energy. Get eight hours of sleep and pace yourself. Don’t try to see everything in a day.
In addition, call your health insurance company to see what’s covered in case you need to see a doctor while traveling, get a medical and dental check up to prevent any unforeseen ailments and get any vaccines required or recommended by the CDC.
Depending on where you’re traveling, only drink bottled water and brush your teeth with it. I know street food is delicious, but if you have a sensitive stomach, be wary. Only eat what’s made in front of you so you know it’s fresh and how it was prepared. If you’re in a country where it’s not recommended to drink the water, eat only fruit you peel yourself so you know it wasn’t rinsed with the water and don’t eat salads because chances are the greens were washed with water your body isn’t used to.
And finally bring a traveling first aid kit with that includes anything like medicine for upset stomach, prescription antibiotic for traveler’s diarrhea, motion sickness medicine or wristbands, antacid for indigestion, cold and flu remedies, pain and allergy medications, sunscreen, adhesive bandages, bandaids, antibiotic ointment, and anything prescribed you’re already taking.