6 tips to stay healthy while traveling - To travel is to live!

Traveling can be an exciting and enriching experience, but it can also be physically and mentally taxing. When you're away from your regular routine and familiar surroundings, it's easy to slip into unhealthy habits and neglect your well-being. However, with some planning and a few simple strategies, you can stay healthy while traveling and make the most of your trip.

In this post, let us explore some practical tips to stay healthy while traveling.

1. Stay hydrated - one of the best tips to stay healthy while traveling

The most important thing to remember while satisfying your wanderlust is to keep yourself hydrated. I learned my lesson the hard way after I got hospitalized the next day after getting back from Kolkata due to food poisoning followed by severe dehydration. Dehydration can be quite a gut-wrenching condition (rather a situation), especially if you are in a foreign land.

Things to remember

- A thumb of rule is that the moment you start feeling dehydrated, the first thing you do is replenish your body that has lost a lot of electrolytes. Always, always carry sachets of ORS (oral rehydration solutions). Drink it as prescribed by your physician.

- Keep sipping on water, coconut water, fresh fruit juices, etc., whenever possible.

- Try to limit alcohol consumption as that could lead to dehydration. It could also affect your sleep and weaken your immune system.

2. Protect yourself from the sun

Yes, wearing an SPF, a sun hat, breathable clothes, etc., all help. However, all these protective layers are capable of failing if the sun is too strong. You should not underestimate the strength of the sun in certain parts of the world. Sure, the sun-kissed photos are utterly gorgeous. But, the harmful rays can sometimes leave you dehydrated and exhausted, usually accompanied by a pulsating headache and fever.

On my recent trip to Goa, I had a heat stroke along with a high fever. I had to get to ER (emergency room) where I was kept for a couple of hours to get a dose of IV (to balance electrolytes and reduce fever). That whole day and the next, I was sleeping in my hotel, completely drained.

Things to remember

- Seek shade whenever you can while walking, or hiking. Peak afternoon is the best time to tour the museums, places of worship, etc.

- Wear breathable cotton clothing to reduce the discomfort that strong rays cause.

- Buy travel insurance before your trip. God forbid if you get a heat stroke in a foreign country, the medical expenses can even exceed your total trip cost. The other day only I read that only the Ambulance charges in place somewhere near Mexico cost about $650. Yes, you read that right.

- Lastly, keep yourself constantly hydrated.

3. Eat nutrient-rich food

Yes, our body is made of 70% of water, but, the importance of nutrition cannot be underestimated. Yes, it gets difficult to follow a nutrient-dense diet while traveling. But, it is not impossible.

Things to remember

- Consume fresh fruits as much as you can.

- While dining out, try to include some salads along with the food of your choice.

- Frequent snacking is the most common side effect of traveling. Isn't that so? Bring along healthy snacks like dry fruits, mixed seeds, granola bars, etc. to avoid unhealthy snacking options.

4. Watch the food portions

The previous tip gets me to this one. There is no harm in trying the local cuisine of a place. It is one of the important aspects of travel. But, that does not mean that you end up overindulging.

Also, there is always an option to recreate the local cuisine back home.

Things to remember

- Eat the local food you enjoy every day in small portions. you would not know how your body might react to the local food because local food = local ingredients (especially the oil). So, listen to your gut instinct.

- Watch your calories. Eat the same amount of food you would have eaten back home. Trust me, it is not difficult.

5. Move your body as much as you can

Just in case you end up overindulging in your favorite food while traveling, try to stay generally active.

I know travel to many of us is usually the relaxation mode that we do not like to turn off. However, it is always a good idea to step out and take a walk.

Things to remember

- Hit the in-house gym in the hotel, even if it is only for 20 minutes. That way, you simply add more life to that day.

- Get up and take a 10-minute walk often on long-haul flights. That is going to help you more than you can imagine.

- Manage stress effectively. Stress and anxiety can create havoc in your body. Just take it slow while you are vacationing, especially if you are the kind of person who plans and researched well in advance about the destination. These simple activities are silent healers.

6. Stick to your sleep schedule - one of the most important tips to stay healthy while traveling

This is the most crucial aspect of traveling. I cannot emphasize enough how vital sleep can be when you are losing so much energy, physically and mentally. A good night's sleep is of prime importance.

Give your body the rest it deserves.

Things to remember

- An ideal sleep cycle, in general, is early to bed early to rise. But, I won't get into the ideal scenarios. Whatever your sleep schedule looks like (back home), try to stick to the same schedule as much as possible.

- If the flight layovers are at odd times, the rest time becomes even more crucial to maintain the energy in your body and mind.

These were a few tips to stay healthy while traveling.

Whether you're going on a short weekend getaway or a long-term adventure, prioritizing your health can help you feel more energized, productive, and fulfilled during your travels.