Living Well: Healthy Travels

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

By Teresa Griswold

Its fun to stay fit and healthy while traveling with some creative mixology to support your body, mind and spirit.

To stay mobile, agile and energetic stretch your imagination and move far beyond the in-flight video demonstrations that shows you how to stretch your legs while strapped in a crowded seat, locked in its full upright position.

Here are some quick and easy exercise options. First off, take advantage of hotel amenities like the fitness center, specialty classes and lap pools. Wherever you are, try to get out for a run or brisk walk taking advantage of sun, fresh air and new sites.

Exploring a new city – on foot – is the best way to witness the sites, side streets and discover the maze of interesting buildings and people.

If you’re situated near a beach, try something new like scuba diving lessons or joining in on a game of local soccer or volleyball to unleash some energy. If you’ve been driving endless miles, check out rest stops for nearby boulders with beckoning handholds or hiking trails. A quick scramble to a lookout will get you an unobstructed view while raising your pulse.

While it’s easy to find ways to stretch and exercise during travel, it’s trickier to eat food on the go that’s convenient and healthy. Hot dog vendors, candy machines and fast food chains are visual and aromatic temptations, so it’s best to keep healthy choices at your fingertips.

By keeping your food healthy, tasty and easy, you’ll find your energy level will remain high and your mind alert throughout the day. Nutritious foods like fresh fruit, dried fruits, trail mix, carrot muffins, whole wheat pretzels, rice cakes with peanut butter, nutrition bars, vegetables, cups of applesauce and bottled water pack well and don’t require refrigeration. The best of the bunch are apples and bananas since they travel well, are easy to eat with one hand and don’t make a mess. Also, energy, protein and cereal bars make good travelers. A simple-to-make trail mix can be made from a few healthy ingredients. Try combining whole-grain toasted oat cereal with chopped walnuts and dried cranberries. Drink lots of spring water to avoid dehydration.

Besides exercising and eating right, there are ways to lessen the stress of travel too. Whether traveling by plane, train or automobile, we can’t predict delays, but we can be ready for them. For starters, don’t be on a go-go schedule. Experts say we should aim for plenty of rest, and they remind us not to rush. Avoiding fatigue, prepares us to be our best.

Stay smart while you travel: the same things that apply every day – washing your hands often with soap and water, drinking safe water supplies like bottled or boiled – are simple measures that will help keep you healthy.

If traveling with kids, have a game plan. Busy kids are happy kids. So, let them run when there’s a chance and take along snacks, drinks and activities like coloring books and action figures.

Doctors recommend that you carry prescription medications and extra doses with you, rather than packed away in hard-to-reach luggage. Also, be sure to assemble a few basic pain- and fever-reducing drugs, antihistamines, a thermometer, sunscreen and anti-diarrhea medicine – just in case.

Some added safety tips are called for when traveling long distance by car. Check weather reports and road updates and keep your automobile well maintained and fully fueled. Be sure to pack the essentials: batteries, blankets, candles, cellular phone, road maps, extra gloves and socks, flares, flashlight, matches, high energy food, water and matches.

Vacations are more fun when they are healthy! PJH


PERMALINK:
Living Well: Healthy Travels | Planet JH News Article: Living Well

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