How to stay healthy before travelling overseas
Travelling overseas is a truly thrilling experience. You will be able to immerse yourself in another culture, try out unique foods and take in scenery that you might only have seen on your computer screen. However, there are risks that come with travelling, especially when it comes to your health.
In order to have an overseas trip that is a success, you should start by taking care of your health before you travel. If you are with one of the many affordable medical aids in South Africa, then this will be easy, but it is always good practise to take extra measures when it comes to your health. Below are some top tips on how to stay healthy when travelling overseas.
Maintain a healthy diet
Your diet is one of the most effective ways to maintain your health. Maintaining a healthy diet before you travel will help you to stay in optimal condition, so you should aim to eat a low carb, high protein diet with plenty of dark leafy greens included. This type of eating will help to keep your gut healthy.
If you want to keep your immune system boosted before you travel, you could invest in eating fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, pickled foods and yoghurt. These foods all provide you with a good amount of probiotics and gut-healing bacteria, which are ideal for improving your immune system. You should also take a Vitamin D and C supplement daily to keep your immune system at an optimal level.
Reduce stress
High stress levels can contribute negatively to the strength of your immune system. It is important to reduce your stress levels before you travel because if you are stressed, you could be more susceptible to becoming sick while you are abroad.
You can reduce your stress by ensuring that you get enough sleep each night, taking care of any concerns you have before leaving (such as who will house sit for you or who will look after your pets while away) and spending time each day meditating and relaxing. You could also invest in a natural calmative to help ease your nerves. These methods will help you to feel less stressed and more at ease before and during your trip.
Don’t forget to exercise
In the weeks leading up to an overseas trip, you most likely don’t feel like going to the gym. However, it is important to maintain your usual level of exercise because this will help to contribute to a successful journey.
Being active helps to maintain your blood circulation, which can help to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) during long flights, and exercise helps you to maintain a healthy weight and immune system. If you are planning on hiking, walking or cycling at any point during your overseas trip, you will need to be fit enough to do so, which is why you need to exercise before you travel.
Get your vaccines ahead of time
Travelling overseas usually means that you will have to get certain vaccines, depending on where you are going. You will need to get all of your vaccines before you leave, and some of these need to be at least two weeks before you head off on your great adventure.
Many medical aids in South Africa will pay for these vaccinations, but you will have to choose a clinic that is in their network. Getting vaccinated ahead of your travel time will allow your body to adapt to the chemicals of the vaccines, as some might make you feel ill at first while they start working. Be sure that you follow any instructions for oral vaccines carefully, as they are put in place to help you avoid catching any diseases while you travel.
Get plenty of sleep
One of the best ways to ensure you are healthy before flying is to get plenty of sleep beforehand. Not only will you feel well rested before your flight, you will build your immune system and reduce your chances of becoming sick while you are travelling.
Sleeping for at least seven to eight hours each night before you travel overseas will help to reduce stress and it will allow your immune system to recover from any illnesses you might have had previously. Getting plenty of sleep will also ensure that you are not frazzled and likely to forget important things, such as your passport or to exchange Rands for Dollars.
Be a healthy traveller
Taking care of your health before you travel will ensure that your trip is stress-free and enjoyable. You will need to be sure that you maintain a healthy diet, fit in some regular exercise and reduce your stress levels before you step on board the plane to your exotic destination.
It is vital that you are vaccinated at least two weeks before you leave and that you get plenty of sleep in order to boost your immune system. If you follow these steps, you next overseas adventure will leave you feeling happy and rested, rather than stressed and unwell.
