courtesy of Moyan Brenn
No one likes being sick—especially while on the road. When you should be focused on having fun and exploring your new destination, you’re stuck fighting off the most current strand of virus floating around in the area.
So be proactive and protect your health while vacationing by using these helpful tips to avoid getting sick:
1. Sleep well.
The value of a full night’s rest is often underestimated. Getting seven to nine hours per night is a good way to help keep your immune system strong—this includes before, during and after your trip. If you have trouble sleeping while away from home (or if you’re naturally more of a night owl), taking a non-habit-forming sleeping aid like ZzzQuil or even just chamomile/lavender tea can help get you to sleep more quickly and deeply.
2. Exercise.
You might be on vacation, but that’s no reason to stop your regular workout routine—especially if it means you have a higher chance of getting sick. You should try to incorporate at least 30 minutes of cardio per day into your schedule, even if it means exploring the area your vacationing in, climbing the stairs instead of using the elevator, or walking to a nearby attraction rather than driving there.
3. Stay hydrated.
Drinking lots of water (not soda, not juice and not flavored water—just water) helps rid your body of harmful toxins and builds your digestive system up. Staying hydrated not only helps your immune system, but it also helps with digestion, muscle function, joint and brain protection, and more.
4. Eat vitamin-rich foods.
If you’re able to, try incorporating a bunch of foods that are high in vitamins and antioxidants, including fresh fruit (blueberries, raspberries, oranges, etc.), organic free-range chicken, organic grass-fed beef, fermented foods/beverages (kefir, tempeh, pickles, yogurt, etc.), coconut products (water, oil, raw, etc.), green tea, garlic, ginger, and other similar items. And it’s totally fine to try the local favorite dish even if it’s not the healthiest option—just make sure to incorporate a few of these great immune boosters!
5. Take immune-boosting vitamins.
If you’re not able to eat as healthily as you might prefer to, taking some vitamins to help boost your immune system is always a good precaution for not getting sick while traveling. Echinacea, zinc, iron, folic acid, lauric acid, and vitamin A, B6 and C are some that are especially helpful with maintaining a strong immune system.
6. Wash your hands often.
According to research conducted by Aquaint, the average person carries more than 10 million bacteria on their hands, while there are generally only 33,000 bacteria present on public surfaces. And when you’re traveling, your body gets exposed to millions more new and foreign germs your body might not be used to. A good rule of thumb while traveling is to wash your hands whenever you’re able to, or even to use hand sanitizer every couple of hours.
7. Take time to relax, too.
Sometimes it’s hard to find the time to get away for vacation with our busy day-to-day schedules. Other times, our employers simply don’t offer much vacation time and we’re limited to just a few days per year. When this happens, it’s easy to want to try and squeeze in as much as possible to make sure you get the most out of your trip since you might not have the chance to do it again for a while. But what’s important to remember is that your body does need downtime. Even if it’s a 30-minute nap here, 10 minutes of meditation there, or just something that gets you to a good state of relaxation.
Start planning your upcoming getaway with confidence knowing you’re taking all the best steps toward staying healthy before, during and after your trip. Additionally, find even more travel resources, including E-Z Rent-A-Car exclusive discounts, travel-related blog posts, special coupons and more.
Courtesy of meg
