I travel a lot, and over the years I’ve found a few no-fail ways to ensure a healthy, happy trip. It really is the small, simple changes we make that can have a huge impact on our overall well-being. I’m currently in South Africa preparing to teach at a retreat. So I thought it would be a good time to share some simple things I do when I travel to stay healthy and sane.
Healthy Travel Tips:
Do This First:
There are a few preventive measures you can take before you leave home to ensure a brilliant time away.
Travel is oftentimes stressful for the body. Whether that’s simply because of changes in food and surroundings, lack of sleep, or other pressures, there are many things you can do to amp up your system so you survive and thrive during and after your time in transit.
Your digestive system is under extra stress when travelling, so starting at least 2 weeks to 1 month before your trip with a high-quality probiotic is recommended. This will help to prepare your digestive tract for any unusual bacteria and digestive upsets. This is also an excellent practice to continue throughout your trip if the food and water you’ll be consuming are at all questionable. Remember, when taking probiotics, some people experience mild digestive upset to begin, but this should pass within a few days to a week. This usually means the probiotic is working. If it seems too upsetting, you can lower your dosage and then slowly increase it as your trip progresses.
If you can, use your time before the trip to catch up on sleep. And get plenty of movement in the days leading up to travelling (especially for long flights). This is also a great time to start taking a daily dose of vitamin C. Make sure your diet includes lots of water and high-vibration vegetables (fresh, organic, and local if possible!). All of this will support your immune system, and the fibrous vegetables will help to keep your bowels moving. I also emphasize consuming herbs or foods that are exceptionally high in nutrients during this time. Some of my favourites, depending on the season, are nettle tea and organic green juice.
During Travel
The physical act of travel can be very unsettling for the physical and energetic body. In particular, air travel can aggravate “vata” energy, which has a dry and light quality. This can show up as not feeling grounded or nourished. To counter this tendency, you must stay very hydrated during travel. I also recommend minimizing congesting foods and alcohol.
Air travel, particularly long flights, is extremely dehydrating, so you may notice that, especially on longer flights, your bowels become dry or stop moving. When the bowels stop moving, all of your waste stays in the body and toxicity starts to build, leading to fatigue, heaviness, headaches, irritability and many other low-level symptoms. Make sure to stay moving as much as possible — get up out of your seat, move around and drink water!!
Using my flying time to fast, or at least greatly simplify my food intake, has been incredibly effective at keeping my energy clear. Generally, airport and airline food is overcooked, full of additives and preservatives, and lacks the vitality you need to sustain yourself. Instead, the food offered further weighs you down and dehydrates you. If you’re not used to fasting, bring some prepared snacks with you, such as dried apricots, raw soaked almonds, and sprouts.
You can also bring packets of organic green powders (spirulina, chlorella, greens plus, etc.) or the powder “Emergen-C” to add to your water while flying.
Create a Tea Stash
I always bring an assortment of teas with me when travelling to minimize any issues that may come up. I prefer the brand Traditional Medicinals (which is widely available) or another brand that emphasizes sourcing its teas from reputable growers and provides high-quality tea. (Side note: Many conventional tea bags have little to no medicinal value, unfortunately. In many conventional tea bags, the medicinal components have been removed and used for other products, such as beauty or essential oil products. The tea bags are then just “empty” leaf matter, void of any medicine. Plus, the bags themselves can be full of other chemicals that are used to bleach and colour the bags.)
Bring the following or something similar with you: echinacea plus (to drink throughout your flight), throat coat (the second you feel a scratchy throat), peppermint and/or ginger (great for stomach upset and/or if you feel a little hot or cold — drink the peppermint if you feel hot and the ginger if you feel cold), smooth move (if you are constipated), nighty night or chamomile (to help you calm down and sleep).
After Arrival
After arriving at your destination, of course, getting some rest, movement, more water, and healthy food should be your top priority.
I like using the ayurvedic technique of rubbing oil into your skin to nourish further and pacify vata energy. You can use almost any oil—I like almond or sesame oil. Rub it in using circular motions starting at your feet and making your way towards your heart. To complete your treatment, you can also shower after you rub the oil in (warm water will help the oil seep deeper into the skin). Just be sure to avoid too much soap, which can dry out the skin, and be careful which towel you use, because excess oil can stain.
Bring with you:
Continue using the vitamins and probiotics I discussed above. In addition, I like to carry a few extra supplements and products for specific situations. Bring rescue remedy (great for a wide variety of circumstances — take when in shock or if feeling a bit frazzled), and cranberry pills (if you feel a UTI coming on). I also always travel with a handful of essential oils. You can check out my favourites here.
There are so many ways to stay healthy when travelling, and I hope you benefit from these simple steps. Let me know in the comments below how you stay healthy on the go and what you can’t leave home without.
