“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer” -unknown
Traveling to new places is one of my husband and I’s favorite activities. There is so much to learn from other people, cultures, and perspectives. We are currently in Europe with my family for Christmas. We started the trip off in Munich, then Nuremberg, followed by Zurich, Innsbruck, and Salzburg. Staying healthy while traveling can be tough. Here are my 11 tips to keep you healthy while traveling whether its domestic or international. If you make it to the end you will see some highlight photos from our trip.
11 Tips to Stay Healthy While Traveling
Choose hotels in a central location so you can walk everywhere.
- This not only helps you save money, but it allows you to get extra steps by avoiding taxi, cab, and/or uber rides. I always travel with my FitBit and aim for at least 15,000 steps per day while on vacation.
Split plates.
- It is important to try different foods that are unique to each culture; however they are not always the healthiest or lowest calorie options. Splitting plates with a friend or family member allows you to try everything in moderation.
Stay hydrated.
- Flying and traveling in general leads to dehydration. We are currently in Europe and in most places water is more expensive than beer and wine making it harder to stay hydrated. As always, aim for half your body weight in water per day. I recommend traveling with a stainless steal or glass water bottle to refill as able. Here are my favorite stainless steal water bottles: Swell and Hydroflask. This is my favorite glass water bottle.
Take vitamin C or other immune support supplements daily.
- While traveling, I take 2,000 mg of buffered vitamin C per day to support a healthy immune system. I also travel with astragalus root and elderberry to take when flying or riding trains where I may be exposed to more germs. Its important to have natural anti-microbials on hand to start at the first sign of symptoms.
Be flexible.
- Things don’t always go as planned while traveling. An attraction you want to see may be unexpectedly closed or your favorite restaurant doesn’t have anymore reservations, but it’s important to remain positive and flexible. Remember this is your vacation and it’s a time to relax and not always follow a schedule. Laughter is one of the best medicines. Sit back, enjoy the company you are with, laugh, and cherish every moment… this may be a once in a lifetime opportunity!
Take the stairs whenever possible.
- When I travel, I rarely spend time in the gym. There are too many things to see and do. However, I want to stay active and fit while traveling. One of the ways I accomplish this is running up and down stairs at the hotel or taking the stairs up to a skyline bar instead of the elevator (which was the case in Munich, Germany).
Plan outdoor activities.
- Eating and drinking is a fun part of traveling but that can get old and leave you feeling sluggish. Make sure to add some outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, biking, kayaking, swimming, or surfing depending on where you are traveling too and what time of year it is!
Limit your alcohol intake.
- Liquid calories! These will add up fast. Choose lower calorie cocktails/drinks such as vodka sodas, prosecco, dry red wine, or an original martini. Have a glass of water in between each drink to help prevent overindulging and to keep you hydrated.
Travel with toilettes to wash your hands and face if you have long flights/travel days.
- Long flights or travel days can make you feel like you need a shower. I like to travel with these tea tree cleansing wipes to wash my face and hands. Its better than nothing and it can help wash away the germs!
Carry a backpack to prevent poor alignment and back pain.
- Gosh this one is huge! Especially if your bag is heavy and you are walking a lot. A purse or bag on one shoulder will cause you to be out of alignment and over time can cause hip and back pain. Depending on how much stuff you need to carry this SwissGear Back Pack and Kavu Back Pack are my two favorite bags!
Pack a first aid kit.
- I always have an emergency kit when traveling for minor aches, pains, and injuries. In my first aid kit you will find Neosporin, Band-Aids, Tylenol, ibuprofen, and tums at the very least.
Here are some photos from our trip!
