Maintaining Digestive Health on Vacation

4/30/2021

It’s the first day of vacation, and you have your bags packed and a whole itinerary chalked out. A large section of your “Must Visit” list, usually includes eateries you must visit and local cuisines you must try. However, if you are not careful, you can get a digestive problem that can put a damper on your trip. Diarrhea is a common problem while traveling. It is caused by consuming food or drink contaminated with bacteria. Here are some tips on how to stay clear of diarrhea when you’re on a vacation:
  • Avoid unpasteurized foods and drinks.
  • Ensure that your meat is cooked through and hot when served.
  • Do not consume uncooked fruits and vegetables that have been peeled.
  • Avoid street food.
  • Drink only bottled water. Use to brush your teeth too.
  • Avoid ice in your drinks unless you’re certain that it’s made from drinking water.
If you do get diarrhea, steer clear of the following:
  • Greasy and fatty food
  • Coffee and caffeinated drinks
  • Dairy products
  • Foods and drinks loaded with sugar
While diarrhea can interfere with your planned agenda, constipation can also stall your daily schedule. Sometimes, a change in your routine diet, exercise and bathroom habit are to blame. It not only keeps you in the restroom your whole trip, but can also set off embarrassing symptoms such as bloating and gas. These are a few ways you can keep your bowel movements regular while you’re traveling:
  • Hydrate yourself by drinking plenty of fluids including water, juices and clear liquids. This will loosen your stools and ease bowel movements.
  • Dehydration can cause poor digestion and result in constipation so avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks.
  • A holiday is the one time you can break free from all restrictions and diets, but as you indulge, ensure that you include a considerable amount of fiber in every meal, like a salad and plenty of local fruits.
  • Listen to your body and visit the bathroom whenever you get a signal even if it interrupts your plans.
  • Exercise and stay active. Avoid sitting to too long.
  • Keep your gut bacteria happy with probiotics. Yogurt, sauerkraut and miso help maintain the intestines’ good bacteria, which help in digestion and prevent problematic fungi from flourishing.
  • Most importantly, you should try and keep your diet and bathroom schedules as close as possible to your normal routine when at home.
  • Sleep and waking timings different from your regular schedule, and changes in activity levels can bring about a shift in your hormone levels and your metabolism.
Don’t spend your time hitting the restroom; put a little thought into what you consume and bon voyage!

Tags

BloatingConstipationDiarrhea