How to Stay Healthy When Travelling

An interview with Karina Stewart – Kamalaya Co-Founder and Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Preparation before travel is so important; being well rested, taking regular exercise and being as healthy as possible for the days preceding any travel is vital. I try to ensure my immune system is balanced and strong before I begin my journey. During my travels I will do my best to keep a regular sleep schedule so that my body can adjust to any time changes and this ensures my immune system remains as strong and healthy as possible because travel exposes us to many more viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms than we would usually encounter in our daily lives.

If you are taking the plane:

During flights hydration is very important; I usually carry a large bottle of water and add electrolytes with vitamin C to the water to ensure I am well hydrated. This has the added benefit of boosting my immune system with the extra Vitamin C and I would always avoid alcohol as it is very dehydrating. I will often carry a healthy snack with me as airline food is often not as nutritious as I would like; some good options are fresh fruit perhaps an apple or banana and also nuts and seeds or healthy crackers and protein bars (but beware those that are full of sugar).  On long distance flights, I carry an additional lightweight jacket or sweater with a hood to keep my head and neck from getting chilled and I also take along my own very comfortable eye-shades to get a complete blackout for restful sleep. A large cashmere shawl that is very lightweight yet ultra warm is my go to travelling companion for flying!

Supplementation:

When I am travelling I increase the amount of Vitamin C, E and D I take as well as selenium and antioxidants such as Rhodiola (which is good for counteracting the extra radiation from flights) and I sip on green tea more regularly. I do take magnesium and melatonin at night to aid in falling asleep and these also help me adjust from jetlag. Moving from one hotel to another can be a disruption to sleep so I sometimes carry an herbal blend to support a deeper sleep and herbs such as valerian, passionflower, chamomile and hops are all excellent sleep and relaxation aids which are very safe to take.

When you land at your destination:

I love to have either a therapeutic foot massage; it is my absolute favourite as it is so relaxing and healing. I also try to get in one full body massage if possible or at least a neck, shoulder and head massage. I try and get in daily exercise as soon as I arrive – preferably outdoors as this will help with jetlag and sunshine on the backs of the knees for 10 minutes if you can do this over the next 3-4 days will help jetlag recovery amazingly well.

Any more tips?

I am often challenged when travelling as I usually have long flights to do and experience drastic changes in the weather I am used to, as my schedule is always tight staying healthy is my goal and it is a challenge! Regular hand washing and paying more attention to hand washing before eating, after touching public areas or before touching your face is something I would highly recommend.  Sometimes I carry a small liquid gel cleanser in case of emergencies when I may not have access to a wash room. Whenever I am travelling I notice the expert travelers dressed comfortably and I will always wear loose layers and comfortable clothing (never jeans) this way I can control my body temperature on a cold airplane and if I want to sleep my blood flow isn’t restricted and I can move into different sleeping and stretching positions more easily.  Lastly I try and remember to carry Kamalaya’s sleep essential oil as it is very effective blend and reminds me of home.

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