Top Tips for Staying Healthy While Traveling

I’ve been traveling to Latin America and Europe for 30 years, and I do it differently than when I was in my 20s. Now, I even enjoy it more!

Now I am the mother of 20somethings who laugh when I tell them that I had “Traveler’s Tummy” for nearly 6 months in Nicaragua because I was not using a precise amount of chlorine to treat my drinking water from the river. Seriously, I'm 51 and I will not bounce back like I used to! I also know I want to relish every minute of my travels. I like to say, "I'm going to squeeze every bit of juice out of that lime!" 🍋

Here are some tips I share with our travelers:

🍓 Don’t ALWAYS eat like a local.

The bacteria in my Colorado gut are not accustomed to foreign bacteria, so I’m more likely to get sick if I don’t choose fruits and vegetables that are either peeled or cooked. I’ll leave the grapes and strawberries for when I’m home, and enjoy the avocados and mangos while I’m traveling.

For main dishes, I will often choose soups and other foods that are cooked fresh and hot. That being said, I love a good ceviche and will trust that the bacteria-reducing roll of citrus juice (limes), onions, garlic, and cilantro, are enough to keep me safe. I love octopus ceviche in Cartagena!

Sometimes I get “hangry” so I pack nuts or granola bars for the trip. You never know when you’re going to be stranded on a tarmac or hit the moment of starvation at 3 pm with no 7-Eleven just around the corner.

😴 Don’t start out exhausted.

I try to be well-rested before I even step on a plane. Travel can be physically and mentally exhausting, so starting my trip well-rested can make my immune system stronger, my mood better, and I’m more equipped to handle any surprises that come my way.

I’ve been known to book flights that have an overnight layover in Houston so I can arrive at my final destination rested, rather than take a 5:30 am departure from Denver. Sometimes that $120 hotel room is worth it to enjoy the first day of a trip that cost me thousands of dollars.

🎒 Don’t forget these essentials.

When we started going to Cuba in 2015, I quickly discovered that if I passed a bottle of hand sanitizer around the table at every meal, our groups stayed healthier. Recently I was in Colombia and started feeling a cold coming on, so my husband and I drank Emergen-C every morning for three days. Now I just always pack several of them in my suitcase, they don’t take up space, and sometimes it’s nice to have flavored water.

I also take probiotics for two weeks before every trip, and another week afterwards. I don’t have a favorite brand, but I have found it helps me be more resistant to illnesses of all kinds.

I’ve learned other tricks over the years, but these are the simple, tried-and-true tips that I live by that don’t complicate my life or cost a lot of money to maximize my pleasure while adventuring.

✏ What are your best tips for staying healthy when you travel abroad?

-Jenny