VACATION ILLNESSES & HOW TO AVOID THEM
Over the years as a traveller i have learned many things about organizing and preparing before going away for an extended period of time. From backbacking in New Zealand for 8 months to taking shorter all inclusive trips to Central America. Travelling can be quite stressful for our bodies and more often than not we end up experiencing some kind of reaction to the new climate/culture.
“I have never gotten sick while travelling.”
Said absolutely no one ever! I mean, who here has never caught a stomach bug while on vacation? Or had such a bad sunburn that they had to hide in the hotell room for 2 days? Or come down with an aggressive cold from the overly airconditioned hotel room? I’m pretty sure i can speek for everyone (that has travelled to some extent) that an unexpected illness can straight up ruin the rest of the trip if you don’t come prepared. So how can you prepare? There are 5 things i have learned to never ever ever leave on a trip without. They are:
Probiotics - The bacteria in your body outnumber your body's cells 10 to one, and most of these bacteria reside in your gut. Probiotics are living microorganisms in your digestive tract that help support a healthy digestion and immune system. The complex community of microorganisms in your gut is called the gut flora or microbiota. By eating fermented foods rich in probiotics, or taking a high quality probiotic supplement you can combat IBS, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and H. Pylory infections. A balanced gut flora also helps reduce systemic inflammation, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, enhance immune function, and help heal various skin disorders.
Eucalyptus essential oil - One of my all time favorite essential oils due to its versatile properties. Eucalyptus holds powerful health benefits including treating colds and flu, relieving muscle pain, preventing cavities, boosting immunity, and healing fungal and bacterial infections. It is an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antibacterial, deodorant, decongestant and stimulant. As a traveller these properties can quickly come in handy to vanquish colds, bug bites, a sore throat, a stuffy nose, and sweaty feet. It works great as a disinfectant after using puplic washrooms, and as a non-toxic bug repellant.
Bee propolis extract - A byproduct produced by the honey bee, propolis contains some of the most potent immune boosting properties on this planet (that we know of). Propolis is foremost an incredibly potent antifungal, antiviral, and antiparasitic, and has shown great results for people suffering from Candida albicans, Giardia lamblia, and Herpes Simplex infections. Propolis also helps fight minor infections and strengthens the immune system when compromised (like during a cold or flu). Needless to say, a MUST-HAVE in any traveller’s medicine bag.
Aloe vera gel - A gelatinous substance obtained from the aloe vera plant, used especially in cosmetics as an emollient and for the treatment of burns. Rich in polyphenols, a potent antioxidant, which inhibits the growth of bacterial infections. The cooling effect of aloe vera makes it the most widely used plant worldwide for sunburns, and also in hospitals to treat 1st and 2nd degree burns. It accelerates healing, reduces scar tissue formation, contains a pain reliever called carboxypeptidase, is anti-inflammatory, adds moisture to the skin, treats cold sores, and fights the signs of aging. For all you sunworshippers out there, say hello to your new best friend!
Activated charcoal tablets - The one and only cure for a food poisoning and hangover. The charcoal's porous texture has a negative electrical charge, which causes it to attract positively charged molecules, such as toxins and gases. It traps the toxins in the gut, preventing them from getting absorbed into the blood stream. As activated charcoal can’t be digested it safely passes through our system, flushing the toxins out with it. This is a true life saver in minor emergencies, such as food poisoning or stomach bugs.
I am going on a very anticipated trip myself in a week. My boyfriend and i are flying to Germany for a couple weeks to visit and spend some time with his family. I am head over heels excited for this trip as i have never been in Germany before, and we have soo many exciting plans for our trip. Not only is my dad and his wife flying down from Finland to meet us for a couple of days in Frankfurt, we are also driving down to Southern Germany to visit its biggest and most famous castle in Neuschwanstein, followed by a couple of nights in Münich before we jump on a 10 hour long train ride up to Amsterdam to meet my sister and brother and a group of friends for the worlds largest hard dance music festival Defqon.1. While in Germany we are going to spend time with Lukas’ uncle, grandparents, cousins, and godparents, which btw i have never met before. Hehe, better late than never right!? (after 6 years together).
I am going to be posting on this blog more frequently in the upcoming month to let you follow along on our little adventure. Travelling is the reason i started blogging so many years ago, and i always get a little extra creative whenever im on a trip, so expect lots of blogging and instagram activity for the next couple of months! Are there any travel related questions that you would like answered? Or requests for blog posts? Leave a comment below to let me know!
My next blog post is going to be more about skincare while travelling, and you definitely don’t want to miss that, so make sure to subscribe to this blog (↡BOTTOM OF THE PAGE↡), and get a FREE copy of my “Quick tips to healthy skin” guide as a sign of my appreciation.
Until next time,
