Staying Healthy While Travelling

By: Dr. Melissa Carr If there’s one passion I share with Traditional Chinese Medicine, it’s travelling. Packing my bags and venturing into the unknown is always exciting. Whether I’m heading out on a long overseas trip or a quick weekend getaway, nothing gives me a bigger rush than exploring somewhere new. Sure, travelling is amazing, but it can also be detrimental to your health. If you are one of the lucky few who can jet-set across the globe and never get sick or hurt, count your blessings. For the rest of us, staying healthy during our travels can be challenging. Here are 5 tips to help keep you healthy while on the road. Drink Plenty of Water Staying well hydrated while you’re travelling (and on the plane) is very important. It not only helps keep your body functioning at its peak, but also prevents you from becoming dehydrated from all that sunbaking, exploring, and wine tasting. To ensure you’re never without, carry a reusable bottle with you while you’re on-the-go. Get Enough Sleep Travelling can wreak havoc on your body’s internal clock. Red-eye flights, different time zones, and unfamiliar hotel beds, not to mention trying to pack in as much sightseeing as possible can make it tough to squeeze in some downtime. But you should. Quality sleep helps your body repair and recharge, keeping you healthy and ready for your next adventure. Keep Snacks Handy A great habit I picked up from my mom is that I always keep a stash of healthy snacks on hand when I’m out-and-about. Besides the obvious reason of avoiding going hungry, having some yummy snacks handy will help you cut back on stuffing your face with junk food, as well as saving you a ton of money. Bring your own goodies from home or stock up on some great snacks when you arrive at your destination. Either way, your body and your wallet will thank you. Walk Everywhere Just because you’re on a break doesn’t mean your body has to be. Vacationing is the perfect excuse to lace up a pair of comfy shoes and hit the streets. After all, there’s no better way to explore a new city than by walking. You’ll burn calories, and you won’t have to waste time and money stuck in a cab or waiting around for a bus to arrive either. Be Prepared to Manage Muscle and Joint Pain Travelling is a great chance to experience, explore, and expand your horizons. The last thing anyone wants is for muscle or joint pain to slow them down—just ask my husband. He is a fairly active guy who enjoys working out at the gym and cycling on his overpriced bike. But, like many active people, he’s also sustained numerous injuries that occasionally crop up, especially when we travel. A cramped plane ride, heavy luggage (neither of us can pack light), different bed, change in pillow, or even a stumble when we’re too busy looking at the sights and not paying attention to where we’re walking—all of these can result in pain. So, one of the things I make sure to pack is a bottle of SierraSil’s Pain Relief topical spray. Without it, both of us would be miserable—him in pain, and me listening to him being in pain. A couple of sprays of that and we can continue on our way! With these healthy travel tips, I hope you can enjoy your next journey. Happy trails! Dr. Melissa Carr is a registered Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine with 15 years of clinical practice and a B.Sc. in Kinesiology. In addition to using acupuncture, Chinese herbs, supplements, biopuncture, and nutrition to treat pain, digestive issues, stress, fatigue, hormonal imbalance, and more, Dr.Carr is also a natural health and nutrition consultant, lecturer, and writer. www.activetcm.com.