How to Stay Healthy When Traveling – Six Steps You Can Start Today

Staying healthy when traveling is important, and your immune system is the first line of defense against infection, disease, and other illnesses. The following are healthy habits that can help maintain a strong immune system. 

Step 1: Protect Your Immune System from Infection 

Avoiding infection when possible is the first step. To do this, practice the following:

– Hygiene

Wash your hands and shower! Avoid touching your face when out in public.  Keep the hand sanitizer close and utilize it often. 

– Health Screenings

Get the recommended health screenings to help detect problems early.  Untreated / Undiagnosed Cancer, Diabetes or Heart disease can cause the immune system to become weaker. If warning signs are caught early, these common diseases can often be treated or even prevented. This is why preventative care is important for all ages! 

– Vitamins

A healthy balanced diet is the best way to ensure your body is getting the needed supplements to keep your immune system healthy. A simple daily multivitamin is a good starting point. 

Step 2: Eating Healthy

Poor diets are known to cause weaker immune systems. To maintain a healthy immune system, proper dieting is important. The body needs certain vitamins and minerals by eating lean proteins, grains, fruits, vegetables and limiting sugar, salt, and saturated fats. Grab that fruit as a snack and put those chips back! 

Step 3: Regular Exercise

Endurance and strength can be maintained through proper exercise routines. This also helps keep your body healthy and strong. Avoid pushing too hard, as too much of a good thing is still bad; too much exercise can wear the body out. The recommended amount of exercise is 30 minutes daily of moderate to intense exercise per week, such as a brisk walk, spin or yoga class. Cardio is key! 

Step 4: Reduce Stress

Too much stress will lower the immune system’s ability to fight off disease. If you can control your stress levels, it will help. Some ideas include keeping a journal, taking yoga, or doing deep breathing exercises. Meditation may help boost the immune system as well.

Step 5: Quit Smoking

Tobacco use adds strain to your body, weakening the immune system and, over time, damages the body in various ways. It can increase inflammation, reducing the effectiveness of the immune system when getting sick. The same goes for vaping and hookah. 

Step 6: Proper Sleep

Getting proper sleep is important to both mental and physical health. This is the period your body uses to regenerate and heal itself. However, you have to give it enough time to work! (Yes, I’m talking to YOU!) The recommended amount of sleep per night is between 6 to 8 hours. However, the amount of sleep you get depends on how you feel when waking up. You should feel good when waking up, refreshed, and ready to begin the day. If you feel sluggish, consider changing things up to find a healthy sleep routine.  Just because you can function on 4 hours of sleep does not mean you are thriving!

To Sum it all Up

Eat a healthy diet, take your vitamins, exercise, meditate/pray and get some sleep! Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is always the best way to help keep your immune system working. 

Signed – The Globetrotting Team

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