With travelling comes adventure, excitement, breathtaking scenery, learning, delicious food, fashion lessons, people watching, laughs, and fun. However, trying to pack in so many sights and experiences can easily lead to sore feet from accumulated mileage while roaming new territory (in poor footwear no less!), restless nights from jet lag or snoring travel buddies (which leads into fatigue), stress caused from missed trains or language barriers, and/ or digestive upset from sampling street vendor specialties. All things listed can ultimately lead to sniffles, runny noses, and high fevers upon returning to reality. Even worse, while one is still travelling! Superiors and colleagues have no sympathy for extra days needed off for recovery post travel when there are deadlines to meet, clients to coddle, and upcoming projects to consider. So how can one make the most of enjoying an exotic location and avoid the physical discomfort and disappointment of returning home red nosed and incapacitated? Food Trotter is here to recommend easy ways to eat (or drink!) your way to a strong immune system while you are abroad or even at home!
Go Gaga for:
1) Water: “Don’t drink the water” is a bit of travelling wisdom that many follow. The most recent popular scene that comes to mind is, of course, Charlotte from Sex and the City pooping her pants after swallowing a bit of shower water in Mexico. We would all like to steer clear of surprise accidents, but getting enough water is crucial. Water is essential for proper circulation of blood and electrolytes, absorption of nutrients, and elimination of toxins from our bodies. Without water our bodies aren’t being properly flushed out, and a ugly bout of scratchy throat and runny nose may follow. Some early symptoms of dehydration include fatigue, headache, cramping, nausea, and dizziness… all things we would like to avoid, especially when trying to have a good time. So make sure you are getting an adequate eight glasses of water daily on your travels. However, do your due diligence and plan ahead; if you are visiting a country or area without safe drinking water, consider bringing a water filter, kettle to boil local water, water treatment tablets, or stick to bottled water.
2) Fruits and Veggies: We know that eating fruits and vegetables is a great way to keep your immune system healthy since they are loaded with vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals. The high amount of fibre will also keep things, um, regular and help toxins pass through your bod. There are many many people who do not eat enough fruits and vegetables on a daily basis, so how will you manage to eat enough on your travels when you are busy sampling all the local specialties? If your temporary home has a kitchenette, fantastic! Hit up a grocery store or market and load up on fresh produce and tropical or exotic fruit (depending on where you are in the world) and store said products in mini fridge. Bring these along for snacks and fill up on them for breakfast (salad for breakfast is completely normal in my books, btw!) This still leaves you lunch and dinner to wine and dine at the famous restaurants or discover the local gems at the must-go-to hole-in-the-wall’s. If you are concerned about eating raw fruits and vegetables, ease your mind by rinsing them with your boiled or bottled water. If no kitchenette is available, just remember to order at least some delicious immune supporting greens with all your meals (the darker the better — think kale and spinach as opposed to head lettuce, and unfortunately, no, french fries do not count as a vegetable!) If all this sounds unrealistic, I would suggest bringing a greens supplement/powder (e.g Vital Greens, Greens+, Green Defense) to keep your health optimal, or at buying some dried fruits for snacks pre- travels. Also, make sure to load up on fruits and vegetables pre and post travels.
3) Probiotics: 70% of the body’s immune cells can be found in the digestive tract. Simple logic would hence lead us to infer that a healthy gut would lead to a healthy immune system. Probiotics are good bacteria which help to create an optimally balanced floral environment in the digestive system. They ward away and prevent bad bacteria from proliferating, like a defense army in your body, and are even useful to combat traveler’s diarrhea. Depending on where in the world you are, you most likely will be able to get your hands on some probiotic rich foods (e.g. Yogurt, kefir, saukraut, kimchi.) Alternatively, bring a probiotic supplement with you on your journey. Visit your local health food store prior to your travels to get some assistance on what the best product for you would be.
We hope Food Trotter’s travel guide for a strong immune system keeps you symptom free while on your journey and upon your return. Along with your water, greens, and probiotics, ditch the immune suppressors by pulling the reins on too much refined sugar, excessive alcohol, and caffeine. Wishing you safe, healthy, adventuresome and delicious travels!
[Photo courtesy of: Destination]
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