Traveling during the holidays can be a great stress buster and can give you a break from your daily grind. It also means junk food options, a break in your fitness routine, and a shock to the system from all those changes in the air, water and time zones.
The good news is, you can take control of the situation. It’s simply a matter of making good choices whether you’re on a plane, in an airport or in a hotel room. Read on to find out how to protect your health when you travel.
1Eat Smart
Traveling doesn’t mean sacrificing healthy food, but you have to be intelligent about it. Choose fresh fruit instead of the canned version, and replace alcohol with plenty of water.
Dr. Tyson Perez, pediatric and family chiropractor based out of Carlsbad, California, suggests taking lots of extra antioxidants like vitamins A, C and E to counteract the higher levels of cosmic radiation at high altitudes, which can create free radicals in the body.
2Bask In The Sun
Clinical research says we can adjust our body clocks through a combination of light therapy and melatonin stimulation.
Exposure to sunlight is a natural way to achieve both. Ask for a window seat if you’re flying during the day so you can enjoy some sun.
3Be Early
Lee Silber, best-selling author, and frequent traveler says that arriving early to the airport gives you more time to sit back and relax while waiting to board.
Enjoy a leisurely spa at the airport lounge and have a balanced meal, instead of grabbing something convenient and unhealthy on the run.
4Breathe Deeply
Mary Clare Bland, a New York-based coach and trainer who teaches yoga, mindfulness exercises and meditation, says deep breathing exercises like pranayama can quickly help the body recover from the effects of mild oxygen deprivation.
5Protect Yourself
Traveling definitely means you will come in contact with surfaces that have been exposed to several people before you. That means all kinds of germs can attack you. Use hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes generously.
6Try Yoga
Simple yoga can naturally increase the brain’s melatonin production, which leads to better sleep and relaxation, two things that are usually affected during travel. Try a forward-bending pose, downward-facing dog and the cat-cow series of poses to ease out.
7Walk It Out
Greg Geronemus, Co-CEO of smarTours, recommends picking a hotel with a good gym. Alternatively, you can just get out and walk to explore your surroundings and familiarize yourself with the area. Walking around in the airport is a good idea since you’re strapped to your seat in the plane.
