Holiday time is here. And that means it’s time to pack your beach or trekking gear, get away, spoil yourself and chill out.
🕒 5 min read
In theory it’s an ideal opportunity to totally relax, forget about work, enjoy physical activities, sleep soundly and catch a few rays. But whilst we all love a summer break, it doesn’t always work like that does it? Most of us know from bitter experience that not everything remains within our control and unforeseen events can occur when we are far away from home.
Travelling can be challenging, especially with young children when delays at airports, uncomfortable journeys or jetlag upset our regular routines and cause irritability and exhaustion. The food we eat will be different too, exotic even, but over-indulging excessively and suffering from food poisoning is miserable and not uncommon.
Sunbathing often compounded by too many sangrias, beers or gin and tonics, lovely though it is, may easily lead to dehydration or sunburn.
Five holiday health essentials
Pack a first aid kit
Take plasters, pain relief, antiseptic and any regular medicines you need while away.
Sort your travel cover
Carry an EHIC card where relevant and take out private travel insurance for extra peace of mind.
Stay safe in the sun
Use SPF 30 or higher, take shade breaks and avoid overdoing alcohol in hot weather.
Be careful with food and drink
Choose freshly cooked, piping hot meals, bottled drinks where needed and avoid uncovered buffets.
Plan your travel supplements
Consider packing targeted supplements to support digestion, energy, immunity, sleep and joints while you are away.
Now I don’t want to sound like a killjoy. I enjoy a trip away as much as the next person, but as a doctor, I do see a lot of people returning from abroad with sad and sobering stories to tell. If you are taken ill away from home, it can be scary. You may not have the healthcare access you are used to at home, there may be no English-speaking doctor on hand and treatment may not be free of charge. Don’t forget your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which can help you access public healthcare during temporary stays in the EU, EEA and Switzerland. You should also take out private travel insurance to cover eventualities like repatriation, should that ever be necessary. Just to be clear, the EHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance and does not cover private healthcare.
Once you have arrived at your destination try to stay on top of your health and prevent problems that might easily detract from your well-being and fun. This is where a little preparation, including packing the right travel supplements, can make a real difference.
Digestive health
Digestive disorders like diarrhoea, vomiting and indigestion are two a penny. Different foods, oils and spices can easily interfere with the usual friendly-bacteria which line your gut and do so much to support your immune system. You really do not want your intestinal microbiome to become upset. Super20 Probiotic or Digestive Enzymes can save a lot of discomfort and inconvenience.
Energy and tiredness
For travel fatigue and tiredness resulting from long days on the go, trekking, swimming, touring city streets on foot, that sort of thing, Magnesium Glycinate or Vitamin B Complex can refresh and sustain you.
Sleep and jet lag
If jetlag or anxiety is preventing sleep, Magnesium Glycinate or Saffron Mood Support can help support relaxation and provide a natural and welcome wind down.
Immune system
The air conditioning in cramped aeroplanes does not agree with everybody and nobody wants to have picked up a bug from a fellow airline passenger or for that matter to develop an infection of any kind. So try to be kind to your immune system. Vitamin C Sustained Release, Vitamin D3 or Healthspan’s immune support range are all useful here.
Bladder support
Many people worry about toilet facilities and unscheduled loo breaks. You only have to think about the queue for the aeroplane toilet and the horrors of finding out that you cannot use it at all when you need it most because of turbulence and you’re not allowed to get out of your seat! So think Bladder Support supplementation for confidence and check out any usable loo facilities that are closest.
Joint support
If you know you’re going to be more active and wonder if your joints will play up why not think about taking something like Opti-Turmeric, Glucosamine and Chondroitin? But take it well in advance to allow it to get into your system.
Skin and sun
And finally you know you want to return home with everyone saying “WOW! don’t you look well.” So look after your skin. Sunscreen is really important. Not just because sunburn is painful but because skin cancer caused by excess exposure to the sun is very much on the rise yet 87% preventable. Use an SPF factor of at least 30 and more if you have a very pale skin type and a 4–5 star UVA rating. Make sure the product is in date and apply it regularly.
You want your skin to stay hydrated, never reddened but healthy and glowing. Super Strength Marine Collagen Complex is great for that.
As with many things in life preparation and prevention is key. In the words of Madonna with her famous song Holiday… “If we took a holiday….., it would be so nice” And she is right. So pack those travel supplements in your hand luggage and make sure it is.
