Four Healthy Travel Tips
Whether you need to travel for business or pleasure, there’s always the possibility of becoming sick when you’re on-the-go. From navigating public transportation and public restrooms to stepping away from your normal healthy routine, it’s sometimes hard to stay healthy.
We understand. That’s why we’ve created a list of simple travel tips to keep you healthy regardless of where you are in the world.
1. Wash Your Hands, often!
We all know that washing hands prevents the spread of illnesses and infections. This basic hygiene tip not only keeps you from becoming infected with germs you may come across while traveling, 
but it also keeps you from spreading your germs to others. However what most of us don’t know is that hot water is not necessary to eliminate bacteria.
According to a recent study published in the Journal of Food Protection, washing your hands with cold or lukewarm water will work just as well as hot water to remove bacteria. In the handwashing experiment, Rutgers University researchers found no significant difference in cleaning power between water that was 60°, 79° or 100° degrees Fahrenheit. They also found that lathering hands for just 10 seconds (rather than the previously recommended 15 seconds) was sufficient to remove germs.
While soap and water are the recommended hand washing staple, hand sanitizer makes this travel tip even more convenient. Just keep a bottle within reach as an easy way to “wash” away those germs when you are on-the-go and can’t use soap and water.
2. Choose Bottled Water Over All Else
When it comes to water, purification is a travel tip must. If you’re in an area or location where you question the purity of the water, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. That is to say, don’t drink water straight from the tap or drinks with ice from local sources.
If you’re not careful with your food and water consumption when you travel, you could potentially expose yourself to harmful bacteria. This also includes eating raw fruits and vegetables cleaned in untreated or contaminated water. So be mindful as you eat and drink along your travels.
3. Move, Move, Move
Exercise is another great travel tip to stay healthy on-the-go. This doesn’t necessarily have to mean hitting the hotel fitness center (although that’s great too). Getting out and doing fun activities is a great way to stay active while you travel.
Walk as much as you can. Even if you are staying on a resort, you can tour the resort grounds or surrounding areas. If your travel schedule permits, try a new activity. Depending on where you are, you can rent a bike, take a hike, enjoy a walk along the beach, or even try snorkeling. The idea is to keep moving as much as possible and to have fun.
Just like a healthy diet, exercise promotes good health and is beneficial to boosting your immune system. Regardless of what you choose, exercise will provide the energy you need to keep your immune system in check while you travel. According to Harvard Health, even small bursts of physical activity promote good circulation, which allows the cells and substances of the immune system to move through the body freely and do their job efficiently.
4. Get Plenty of Rest
There can be a lot more anxiety around sleeping away from home, and that can make it more difficult to sleep. Not to mention, the new sights, sounds and smells that keep us busy during the day can hinder our sleep at night.
We often experience troubled sleep in a novel environment. This is called the first-night effect (FNE) in human sleep research and has been regarded as a typical sleep disturbance when we travel. According to a study published in the latest edition of Current Biology, half of our brain may remain alert when we sleep in a new location as a natural defense against danger.
Additionally, new times zones can wreak havoc on our existing sleep routines. The Mayo Clinic recommends these travel tips: that in addition to modifying your schedule before you leave, you should stick to your destination’s schedule as soon as you arrive. They also recommend that if you’re traveling fewer than eight time zones away from home to use a bright light to help your body acclimate to its new schedule.
Whether we travel for business or pleasure, we run the risk of coming into contact with germs that will make us sick. If you practice these simple travel tips, you’ll be well on your way to staying healthy on your next trip.
You may also like:
Milk – It’s Not The Only Source Of Calcium That “Does A Body Good”