Traveling is exciting and enriching. Discovering new places, experiencing different cultures, and meeting new people—all of this is what makes traveling so special. What about digestion? Who among us hasn't struggled with digestive problems while traveling? In this blog post, we explore why traveling can affect your digestion and offer valuable tips on how to prevent this.
Why does travel affect digestion?
Traveling can affect your digestion in several ways.
Dietary changes: It's often difficult to maintain a regular diet while traveling. At airports, train stations, or rest stops, we sometimes rely on fast food or less healthy options. Such sudden dietary changes can cause digestive problems such as diarrhea or constipation.
Jet lag: Traveling across multiple time zones can disrupt your sleep-wake cycle and mealtimes, which in turn can affect your gut. The adjustment period can bring gastrointestinal discomfort, including reduced performance and mild mood swings.
Hygiene: When traveling, you may not have the same hygienic conditions as at home. Poor hygiene, especially when handling food or hand hygiene, can allow bacteria or pathogens to enter your body and cause digestive problems.
Stress: Traveling can be associated with stress, anxiety, or excitement. Such emotional stress can affect your digestion and cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, or diarrhea.
Dehydration: Air travel, in particular, can lead to dehydration. The dry air in airplane cabins and limited access to water can impair digestion and lead to constipation. Low cabin pressure can also cause gases to expand in your digestive tract, causing discomfort.
How can you protect your digestion while traveling? Whether you're traveling on long-haul flights or prefer short trips, there are things you can do to protect and improve your digestive health while traveling.
Hydration: Stay hydrated! Drink plenty of water, especially while flying, to prevent constipation.
Healthy eating: Reach for probiotic foods like yogurt, kefir, or kombucha, which contain good bacteria for your gut. Pack healthy snacks like nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and whole grains. These provide you with important fiber and healthy fats.
Our tip: Ayurvedic apple compote && Porridge: A delicious recipe that's also super easy to transport!
Probiotic routine: Another important tip to pack in your travel bag is probiotics. As a regular part of your morning routine, they can help maintain the balance of your gut flora, even while traveling, which is especially important when you're on the road and your diet changes. Various studies have shown that taking probiotics can help prevent traveler's diarrhea and improve overall gut health.
Movement: Use long waiting times at transit stations like train stations or airports to get moving.This promotes digestion and prevents flatulence.
Stress reduction: Plan your trip carefully to avoid stress. Make a conscious effort to take time to relax and set realistic expectations to minimize travel stress.
Follow these tips, and you'll find that even while traveling, your stomach will be calm and you'll be able to enjoy your time to the fullest. Have a good trip!
