6 Fail Proof Travel Strategies For Staying Healthy On the Road
With Summer in full swing, a lot of us are planning for and enjoying some much needed travel time. As relaxing as vacationing can be, it can also be grueling. Between jet lag, general lack of sleep, trying new (and sometimes mysterious) foods, forgetting to stay hydrated and being in constant close proximity with strangers, it's no surprise that people frequently get sick during or directly after a trip. We strongly believe that Self-Care can and should be a priority regardless of where you find yourself - so we're thrilled to share Robin Berzin's tips for staying healthy on the road (as inspired by her recent trip to Israel).
Written by Robin Berzin
1. Sleep on the flight, whatever it takes.
For me that means taking an Ambien, a drug I mostly think is poison, and creating a cocoon to block out the atmosphere: 2 big shawls to cover myself head to toe, an eye-mask and earplugs. If you’re one of those who is out cold wheel to wheel, I’m jealous. But I’m not an airplane seat sleeper – the noise, the air and the feeling of being vertical when I want to be horizontal is too much. I also know that if I prepare well and bring my gear in order to get a few hours of sleep, I can hit the ground running when I arrive.
2. Drink 3x more water than you think you need.
A long flight can suck out about 10% of your total body water. Whatever amount of water you think you need drink 3x more. Your energy level and digestion will thank you. 3. Bring the Big Guns – B-vitamins. Chances are on a big trip you’re drinking more, eating more and taking in more than you realize. I travel with methyl-folate and methy-B12 in the form of a Xymogen women’s essentials pack. I credit my B’s with more energy and a faster recovery from late nights than I’d have had otherwise. 4. Pack a travel yoga mat. My 2.2 lb folding mat is a life essential for travel. Even a few minutes of yoga a day has a profoundly energizing and calming effect. Those few minutes of grounding and being alone on my mat made up for long flights, lots of walking and borderline overeating. 5. Unstop yourself with probiotics and magnesium. Travel makes everyone constipated and bloated. It’s just life. You’re out of your routine, eating new foods, not sleeping or exercising regularly, and add to that the weird phenomenon flying has on all of our bellies. So many people came to me complaining of constipation. My tricks are probiotics – I like Prescript Assist, 2 at bedtime – and magnesium citrate – the kind of magnesium that makes you go, as many as 5 tablets before bed. Add to that a large glass of water when you go to bed and first thing on waking and a belly massage and you’re good to go. 6. Pick your food battles. I don’t eat gluten or dairy at home, but on a couple of choice occasions I sent my dietary restrictions out the window for local sheep’s milk cheese or challah the traditional bread eaten on Shabbat. In general there were so many veggie-heavy pescatarian options in Israel [that] it wasn’t hard to follow my usual trends, but I also made sure to feel I got to taste every flavor in moments where it really counted. These six strategies are what I use to get the most out of travel. It takes a tiny bit of preparation and a slightly heavier suitcase, but it means I have the best experience possible, and can let the destination take care of the rest.Before you head to your next destination though, make sure to pack our multi-purpose (not to mention, 100% Natural) Laserine Botanical Salve - perfect for alleviating dryness, chapping, rashes or irritated skin at home or on the road.
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