How To Stay Healthy While Traveling
Here are some tips for staying healthy while traveling:
- Drink bottled water on the plane to keep yourself hydrated. In countries where the tap water is suspect, use bottled water exclusively. Don't even use tap water to brush your teeth, and don't use ice in your drinks unless you know that it came from a pure source.
- Bring your medications with you; don't buy them abroad. Some medicines are unavailable in some parts of the world, and local medicines may sometimes have undesirable effects on newcomers. Especially, bring over-the-counter medications to combat constipation and stomach-related ailments.
- Pack healthful snacks, such as nuts, granola, fresh or dried fruit, and easily portable vegetables such as carrots and celery. These will keep you away from vending machines that sell sugary snacks, which may make you tired.
- Your family doctor can give you medications to protect you against tainted water, malaria, and other risks. Keep your doctor's contact information with you. If you have a serious medical condition, ask your doctor to recommend a colleague at your destination.
- Especially in tropical countries, bring mosquito repellent, and wear long trousers and long-sleeved shirts.
- Keep moving and be sure to get your exercise. On a long flight, get up and stretch every hour or so if you can do so without disturbing others too much. At your destination, make a point of visiting your hotel gym and/or going for a long walk each day; this will keep you alert and help fight fatigue.