Good Digestion While Travelling
My Top 6+ Tips For Regularity On The Go
My digestion can be finicky on any given Tuesday so travelling used to be one of those ‘close your eyes and hope for the best’ scenarios. Will I feel bloated and lethargic from all the food? Will my skin breakout? Travel comes with lots of bodily stressors like different time zones, climates, and cuisine. Sometimes we might not even notice the stress in our minds, but we will feel it in our bodies when we’re on the go.
I love eating and look forward to the food when I visit a new place. I’m not one to skip out on extra dairy or carbs, I just prepare myself so I can have lots of energy to explore till the end of each long day. I avoid the foggy feelings that come from sluggish digestion by staying majorly hydrated and following these six tips (as needed):
Tip #1 - If you forget everything on this list, just do like the locals.
Each culture has their own practices and rituals around food and digestion. For example, Italy is known for having a digestivo (liqueur or espresso drink after dinner), just like Korea is known for including fermented vegetables or kimchi with their pork belly. Embrace the local culture as best you can, they know how to digest their food!
Tip #2 - Citrus fruits.
I always pick up some citrus when I arrive. Fresh lemon water or 1/2 a grapefruit will keep the digestive juices flowing. No matter where you’re travelling, you should be able to pick up some fresh citrus at the local market or grocery store.
Tip #3 - Digestive bitters.
Having bitters on hand is a good idea because it works for so many troubles. The trick is to have it 15-20 minutes before your meal. Perfect for extra indulgent/heavy meals or eating foods you don’t regularly eat (like going to a new restaurant in a new country). This bitters will also help the nervous system relax and aid in nutrient absorption—bonus!
Tip #4 - Probiotics.
Foreign foods = foreign bacteria. Help your gut by loading it with healthy bacteria. Start taking the supplement a couple weeks before you go and continue during your travels. Having healthy bacteria will help maintain good digestion, strengthen your immune system, and lower stress/anxiety (I mean, what more could you ask for?).
Tip #5 - Eater’s Digest.
If taking things orally doesn’t sit right with you, try a topical roller. This popular remedy can be applied directly on your stomach and massaged in gently. Stomach massage is really beneficial on it’s own, with the addition of this oil the benefits are even better. If you’re really in a pinch, take a single drop of this orally. It’s strong but it does the job.
Tip #6 - Movement.
Keep things moving to keep things moving! Take a stroll after dinner or skip the Uber ride once in a while to get in some steps. Sweating, swimming, walking, dancing, it all counts!
A few extras just for good measure:
kombucha (not always easy to find, but great if you overate)
deep breaths, meditation, or an afternoon nap (calm the nervous system to switch into rest + digest mode)
magnesi-om before bed works like a charm
get enough sleep, you’d be surprised how much this helps
and once more, always stay hydrated!
What are your favourite ways to keep your body feeling good while travelling? This is something I could talk about for days—I’m truly curious. Let me know in the comments below.
Buon appetito!
