6 Easy Tips for How to Stay Healthy While Traveling

A joyous part of vacation can be falling off of your routine. There’s no snooze button to hit before work. Exercise comes from snorkeling over reefs instead of the gym. And, oh, the glorious room-service and street food that you can’t get at home and better yet aren’t cooking yourself.

However, it’s difficult to enjoy any of the above if you don’t feel well. Staying healthy while traveling does require a handful of simple measures and I’ve partnered with Nature Made to share my favorite tips so that you can indulge and have a great time no matter where you’re jetsetting for work or play.

Digestive Health First

Stomach issues are the most common ailments that can derail your vacation because they’re easy to pick up and tough to power through. It’s also easy to pay the price for merely eating food that you’re not used to.

A healthy gut can not only help travelers tolerate what they eat and drink, but it also is key to a strong immune system. It’s easy to travel with Digestive Probiotics that don’t need refrigeration. Nature Made has you covered with two different options:

• Advanced Dual Action Probiotics in capsule form deliver the “good” bacteria your body needs in both the small and large intestines.†
• Dual Action Probiotic + Energy B12 gummies contain 4 billion live cells of Bacillus coagulans.* IS-2 naturally helps support digestive health, and 1000 mcg of vitamin B 12 supports cellular energy production.† The gummies are so tasty that you might just look forward to taking your probiotics.

If you aren’t a regular probiotics taker, try to start at least a few weeks before departure because it takes time to build up gut health and get you in the habit of remembering to take them. Nature Made also has a full line of trusted products for committing to and supporting a healthy lifestyle or health goals.

Eating is definitely one of my favorite parts of travel.

• 

• 

Drink Lots of Water

Staying hydrated is also incredibly important for healthy travel, especially when flying. In the excitement of exploring a new city, it’s easy to forget to drink as much water as you’re used to or to opt for wine (guilty) instead of water. Carry a water bottle, ask hotel housekeeping for extra bottled water, or buy water to keep in your room so that it is always available. (I find that I’ll drink less water if relying on the hotel bathroom tap as a source.)

As you probably know already, it’s also wise to be careful about where you get non-bottled watered. In some parts of the world, your body won’t be used to bacteria in tap water that even water bottles with filters can’t remove. In these cases, opt for certified bottled water.

Keep Skin Hydrated

Flying is drying. In addition to drinking plenty of water while onboard, there are several other easy things you can do.

Carry a TSA-approved-sized hand cream, face cream or lip balm on the plane and remember to reapply it throughout a flight.

After landing, soak in bath salts. Not only is the magnesium in salt detoxifying but bath salts are also excellent for calming sore muscles and moisturizing skin. Then, lather on the moisturizer.

Here’s your excuse to hit the spa. One of the best jet lag remedies that I swear by is a spa appointment after a long haul flight, especially if it is a massage or wrap and facial combo. It’s a sure way to make sure skin is hydrated and that you feel relaxed enough to sleep well.

Get Enough Sleep

Sleeping away from home can be challenging for some, but there are some measures to take to create the best sleeping environment possible.

• Ask for a quiet hotel room away from elevators, ice machines, and street noise.
• Draw blackout shades tightly or call ahead to see the room you booked has them. (You might be surprised by how many nice hotel rooms don’t.)
• Wear earplugs and an eye mask to prevent distraction.
• If traveling across time zones, make sure to silence mobile phone alerts. People at home may not know how early or late it is wherever you are.

Try to Avoid Germs

I’m the person with the antibacterial wipe cleaning hard surfaces around my airplane seat. It’s a habit I’ve had for decades. The one time I forgot, my daughter caught a flu that nearly landed her in the hospital. Knock on wood; we haven’t been sick after flying since then. Make hand sanitizer a handbag staple while on vacation and get into the habit of using it regularly.

Forward Think Climate

Stay warm when you need to and be prepared for the heat. Even in Asia during a scorching hot summer, it’s important to pack and carry layers as air conditioning inside shops and restaurants can be quite cold even if it’s 100° F outside. Also, don’t let yourself get cold on an airplane. I can’t think of many destinations in the world where layers aren’t needed.

My Favorite Stay-Healthy Travel Gear

Eating well is one part of staying healthy while on vacation. The rest involves good sleep, staying hydrated, preventing jet lag and more. In partnership with Nature Made, I’ve put together some of my favorite things to help you achieve all the above so that your next vacation is the best one ever.

• NatureMade vitamins
• White + Warren Travel Wrap
• Slip Silk Eye Mask
• Dead Sea Bath Salts
• Massage Ball
• Kiehls Hydrating Mist
• Swell Traveler Bottle
• Jo Malone Travel Candle
• The Honest Co. Hand Sanitizer
• eos Travel Hand Lotion
• Organic Lavender Essential Oil

You can take a peek at some of the fabulous items here (though colors and flavors of exactly what you may win vary).

[show_boutique_widget id=”710605″]

In the meantime, be sure to check out Healthy Together for more tips on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

How do you stay healthy while traveling?

† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

*Formulated to provide at least 4 billion live cells per serving if continuously stored in a cool, dry place at or below 75 degrees F (23 degrees Celsius) and consumed prior to the expiration date. Storage and handling conditions can vary and may affect the total amount of cells delivered at the time of consumption.