by Marita Schauch –
I recently returned from a trip to Portugal, and the travel bug is real. Given that I’m a quarter Portuguese, it was amazing to experience my heritage and enjoy the food, culture and history.
Sometimes I forget how necessary it is to take time away to explore and live authentically and to reinject life with purpose … I LOVE my job and so sometimes I forget I need time away to create balance and restore my passion. I’ll be honest: this trip really reinforced how much I love to travel! That being said, it can be hard to stay committed to healthy habits while jet setting or road tripping.
With the busy travel season of summer upon us, I would love to share some of my favourite ways to enjoy travel while staying healthy.
Embrace the Local Lifestyle
Many tourist traps are also filled with a lot of junk food, or highly novel items that don’t really offer a lot nutritionally to the body. While those things can be a fun treat, I’ve found it’s best to live like a local when visiting somewhere new! There are so many amazing and exotic flavours to be explored, and many traditional cuisines use whole foods which are packed with nutritional value. Look for smaller authentic restaurants and bakeries that use real ingredients. My favourite from Portugal was the pastel de nata – an egg custard tart that is worth the 14-hour flight in and of itself!
Explore on Foot
There’s no better way to immerse yourself in a culture than to walk around and see what you find. With the quality of maps available at your fingertips with a smartphone, you’ll never get lost, and you’ll get your steps in and work off all those egg custard tarts!
Bring your Supplements
Make sure you’re getting good nutrient support by bringing along your supplements, especially a high-quality multivitamin, and a probiotic to support good gut health on the go. A magnesium supplement is also great to help with travel stress and fuelling good sleep.
Stay Hydrated
Be sure to keep drinking water while you’re travelling – especially important to avoid the dreaded vacation constipation. Look for bottled spring water, and bring some electrolyte packets along with you to help your cells receive that hydration. It’s easy to forget when you’re on the go and outside of your usual routine, so set guideposts around mealtimes or alarms on your phone to remember to drink up.
Beat the Stress
Ever return from a vacation feeling like you need a vacation? Build some stress-busting time into your travel plans. Consider taking an extra day to adjust to time zones on either side, or planning some down time to recharge.
Watch Your Alcohol and Sugar Intake
While I’m all for having a good time, it can be easy to go overboard when on holidays. Limit your alcohol and sugar intake and your body, especially your liver, will thank you! Look for other ways to have fun and enjoy your surroundings, you may be surprised what you find!
Happy Travels!
