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Home » ARTICLES

Tips to Stay Healthy While Traveling

Bright smiling woman with glasses, Heather Cooan portrait.
Modified: Nov 2, 2020 · Published: Aug 27, 2020 by Heather Cooan, MBA, ONC, FDNP, NTP · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments
Image by Jan Vašek from Pixabay

The constant traveler, who tours different countries across different time zones is faced with a lot of stressors which may contribute to the degradation of optimal health status. Undetected and unsuspected lenience on traveling across time zones may also lead to affected psychosocial behavior because of the new places and environmental stimuli that are bombarding the body. Here are a few tips to stay healthy while traveling to help you maintain a high state of wellness and prevent complications of illness after your trip.

Jetlag Blues

The most common effect of constant traveling across different time zones is the jetlag. It is defined as the feeling of an individual of having similar symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, and general irritability caused by a tired mind. The new environment and the new culture, as well as the new body clock system may distort the normal time for rest of an individual. This would cause consistent stress on the body functions, resulting to an inefficient output of energy by the different organs which are dependent on day and night settings.

A jetlag is commonly experienced a few days at max by a traveler until such time that internal homeostasis is achieved by manually calibrating sleep and dietary patterns with the new place.

Dehydration Is One Of The Main Culprit

Another reason which causes discomfort on a traveler such as headaches and nausea is caused by dehydration during the flight. Travel dehydration is very real. Even if the traveler has not done any strenuous work inside an aircraft, the mere duration of the flight is enough to deprive the human body of enough water and fluids to maintain efficient hydration. Furthermore, the different pressure changes happening to the internal cabin also affect the body functions and metabolic speeds, and therefore the consumption of fluids inside the body.

It is advisable to drink constantly throughout the flight with clear water to keep the body hydrated and supplied. As dehydration sets in, the flow of blood is slowed down. This blood is essential to carry oxygen to the different parts of the body, especially to the brain. A lack of oxygen supply would result therefore in a more irritable personality, and also a sleepy feeling due to the lack of oxygen and increase of carbon dioxide instead.

Sleep, Sleep, And Sleep

One of the most effective ways to combat the effects of traveling such as jetlag and disorientation is to sleep well before the flight, during the flight, and after the flight. It is also advisable to prioritize this sleeping habit and start with the work itinerary on the succeeding day. In this manner, the traveler is not subjected to stressors that may add up to the adjustment period and disorientation of the self due to the new environment.

Many would say that too much sleep may not serve the individual good. However, the more sleep and fuller rest of the person, the better chances that he would be able to think and function with efficiency as soon as he is ready to work or perform the itinerary for the day.

Staying healthy while traveling is a daunting task to look after and maintain as there is almost no guarantee that jetlag would not occur to some minor extent at least. Nevertheless, prevention and heightening of its measure to inhibit its manifestation on travelers is vital for health
reasons.

Here are 5 toning exercises you can do anywhere to help you stay active while you're traveling as well! Hopefully, these tips to stay healthy while traveling were helpful. Safe travels!

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  1. EMR says

    June 23, 2011 at 6:53 pm

    It is very important to eat light and lesser than the usual quantity to have an easy digestion and stay well through the travel.

  2. hemp says

    June 30, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    stress....It s always very difficult to pin-point the actual severity of Jet Lag Syndromebecause it.affectspeople in so many different ways and there are such a variety of variables to consider.There are no magic.formulas or quick fix medications because nothing can change your natural body sleep clock except time itself...We do know it produces altered moods and errors in minor complex motor skills.

Heather Cooan in the kitchen chopping a cucumber on a wooden cutting board.

Hi, I'm Heather!

I'm an Oncology Nutrition Consultant and lived experience mentor providing education, data-driven nutritional recommendations, and trauma-informed strategic environmental and lifestyle design for those living with cancer, autoimmunity, and complex chronic illness.

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Disclaimer: Functional oncology nutrition consulting is not medical nutrition therapy and does not diagnose, treat, manage, or cure any disease. It is intended to support the proper functioning of biological systems as adjunct support to your licensed healthcare provider's treatment plan. Personalized diet, lifestyle, and environmental recommendations aim to optimize well-being but are not a substitute for medical care. Any lab or genetic information used is solely for personalizing diet and lifestyle, not for diagnosing or treating disease. You are required to work with a licensed healthcare provider, including a primary care practitioner and, if you have or have had cancer, a medical oncologist. All recommendations, including supplements and labs, must be approved by your healthcare provider before implementation. Heather Cooan and the other consultants at Soil to Soul Nutrition’s role is to provide support and guidance, not to replace your physician's care.

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