Doctor Doni

Travel with Care

travel, holidays, natural healthWhen it comes to taking a flight, bus, train or car away from home, it is an important time to prepare in ways that will support your body.

That’s why one of the four customized stress remedy plans in The Stress Remedy book is for travelers.

Here are five tips to keep you traveling with care:

Bring food that you know you can eat. Definitely bring protein powder and you might even pack your blender. I like to bring a cherry Larabar, a bag of cashews and dried cherries, turkey jerky, and gluten-free oatmeal (only need to add hot water). And absolutely buy a bottle or two of water before you board a plane.

Stop at a grocery store when you arrive to buy filtered water and food that matches your body best. If staying at a hotel, ask to have a refrigerator in your room so that you can keep perishable items and left-overs. You might also want to search online for restaurants and stores in the area that offer gluten-free options.

Bring items that keep you comfortable. Some examples are suitcases that roll, noise canceling headsets (and/or ear plugs), eye mask, two neck pillows (one for your neck and one for your low back), your favorite gluten-free soap/shampoo, and your pillow from home (especially if you have a favorite pillow for neck support). Also important to bring any vitamins/supplements* that keep you feeling well, including melatonin if you are changing time zones.

Plan on exercise and massage to keep you feeling well. During a flight, you can do stretches – pelvic tilts, cross ankle over other knee and lean forward, and neck stretches. Then, if at all possible, do 10-20 minutes of exercise when you land – not just aerobic, but also strength training such as squats, push ups, and abdominal crunches. You could use the exercise plan in The Stress Remedy book to guide you. Schedule a massage (ahead of time) at your destination to ensure that any kinks are worked out.

Support your immune system prior to, during, and after the flight to prevent catching a virus. One of the best ways to do that is to avoid sugar and alcohol, which both lower immune function and leave you susceptible. I recommend also taking vitamin C (500-1000 mg), zinc (15-30 mg), and Echinacea to boost immune function. I usually take these in the form of EHB before, during, and after a flight. Triple Flu Defense is another great tool for preventing viral infections. It is worth it to feel well when you are arrive where you are going. For more tips, check out my cold/flu guide here.

During a 15-hour flight over the North Pole to Hong Kong, I put these tips to the test!

If only we could travel without having to worry about food, water and what our bodies need – that would be a lot simpler! As humans, our bodies need to be fed every 2 to 4 hours with foods that not only contain nutrients we need, but that don’t trigger inflammation.

I am not only sensitive to gluten and dairy, but I also tend to get headaches and tight neck muscles – so all of this preparation is essential for me.

As we passed the North Pole, I was most grateful for noise canceling headsets and protein powder I could mix in water. Then when we landed, I headed straight for a one-hour massage, which took away the headache, followed by a bowl of simple chicken soup with rice and cilantro.

We then took a long nap to help adjust to the time zone change, but still made sure to go to bed at about 10 pm in the new time zone. It can help to take 1 to 3 mg of melatonin at bedtime in the new time zone to help your body adjust.

When we woke the next day, Ella and I were ready to explore Hong Kong with my sister, her husband, and my nieces.

Please share your favorite travel tips below!

I wish you all safe travels.

–Dr. Doni

*Please keep in mind that any and all supplements—nutrients, herbs, enzymes, or other—should be used with caution. My recommendation is that you seek the care of a naturopathic doctor (with a doctorate degree from a federally-accredited program) and that you have a primary care physician or practitioner whom you can contact to help you with individual dosing and protocols. If you ever experience negative symptoms after taking a product, stop taking it immediately and contact your doctor right away.

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