By Isabelle Nunn, Head Nutritionist
Stay well on your Summer Vacation!
Don’t let common holiday symptoms put a damper on your travels or distract you from having a wonderful time. Enjoy yourself to the maximum this summer with these nutrition and lifestyle tips for a healthy holiday.
What Can Go Wrong?
Digestive upsets are common when travelling abroad particularly to warmer climates. Higher temperatures can put extra stresses on the body, increasing the risk of sunstroke, sunburn, dehydration, skin rashes and prickly heat. Travelling can disturb our natural rhythms and resilience, leading to symptoms such as jet lag, fatigue, colds and viruses
How to Prime your Gut - Travel Ready:
Having a healthy gut flora puts us in a better position to fight any microbes we may be exposed to while on holiday. It also reduces the incidence of common digestive imbalances such as bloating, gas and constipation caused by a change in diet. Digestive upsets as a result of stomach bugs and the effects of food poisoning are commonly experienced when travelling abroad. But the good news is that beneficial bacteria may help the situation by making it harder for pathogens to take up residence. In fact, research suggests that taken at least two weeks before travel, probiotics may significantly help to prevent travellers’ diarrhoea*.
Which remedies can help?
· Choose a practical and a high-quality probiotic formula that contains a diverse range of friendly bacteria strains including Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum. Garden of Life Microbiome Formulas contain a potent 50 billion live bio cultures. Expertly designed to support digestive wellness and immunity.
· Traditionally used to support the body in cases of mild stomach bugs and colds, research suggests that Oregano’s natural botanical compounds may have natural antibacterial properties*. Nature’s Answer Oil of Oregano is a pure; concentrated oil in a handy small bottle. Simply add up to 4 drops a day to water if needed.
Remember to Replenish your Fluids
Although fresh juices, soft drinks and teas can provide some fluids, it is best to drink pure water to properly hydrate, so be sure to take a bottle with you on travel excursions. Minerals lost through sweating can be replenished with electrolytes to help prevent dehydration.
Which remedies can help?
Ener-C Electrolyte Sport Drink Mix comes in convenient sachets, which can be packed in travel bags, to have at hand if needed. Made from all-natural ingredients.
Refresh and Restore Essential Nutrients
Taking a quality multivitamin that provides Vitamin C plus other essential nutrients can help ensure we bridge any gaps if our food choices are a bit erratic while on holiday. Long hours of travel or late nights can be a source of stress on the body.
All types of stress - mental, emotional and physical - puts a greater demand on our need for nutrients.
Alcohol consumption may have an undermining impact on the level of nutrients available to the body.
Which natural remedies help?
Ener-C Multivitamin Drink Mix sachets are a convenient and revitalising way to take Vitamin C and essential nutrients. Made with a variety of all-natural fruit flavours for you to enjoy, this effervescent vitamin drink mix also supplies electrolytes and B vitamins to support your energy levels while you play. Jet lag, hangovers and head-colds? Vitamin C contributes to natural immune defences and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
Why you Should Protect your Skin from Inside and Out
As well as using a natural sunscreen, take care to consume colourful fruits and vegetables that are packed with ‘antioxidants’. Antioxidant- rich foods help to prevent the damage caused by ‘free radicals’. Free radicals are essentially the term used to describe unstable molecules that can damage cells in our bodies. They can be produced as a result of normal metabolic processes, but their production can increase with age, stress, environmental pollutants we are exposed with or an accumulation of bodily toxins, that can also occur with our dietary or lifestyle choices.
Free radicals ae also produced in the skin, especially if you are sunbathing on a holiday. Greater exposure to the UV light, can in fact contribute to skin damage and ageing. Research suggests that phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid and carotenoids derived from different plant species may protect the skin by preventing the UV rays of sunlight’s penetration, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress*.
To Jazz up your Diet, Consider Including Foods Rich in
· Carotenoids: such as carrots, mangoes, tomatoes, kale, spinach, bell peppers and watermelon. Carotenoids are bright yellow, red, and orange colour pigments found in plants.
· Vitamin C: such as kiwi, citrus fruits, and berries. Berries are rich in the natural compounds, anthocyanins.
· Green tea: green tea can be drunk cold, and its infusion can be used for ice-lollies or in deserts. Research suggests that natural compounds contained in green tea called catechins may potentially protect the skin, against sun damage*.
Which remedies can help?
· To top up your nutrient intake, Organic Traditions has a wide range of certified organic and sustainably harvested fruits in convenient, powder form. An example includes Maqui Berry
· Z-Gel- this little tube all-purpose soothing gel is ideal for insect bites, bruises, scrapes, aching muscles and more.
· Sunscreen as mentioned above. Explore our ranges from JASON and Alba Botanica.
Any claims in this article are not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure any diseases. A food supplement is not a substitute for a healthy balanced diet and lifestyle.
*References:
· https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17298915/
· https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19783523/
