5MustHavesForHealthyTravel

Ifyoutypicallygethomefromatripfeelingtired,bloated,orworse,downrightsick,youreingood
company.Statisticsshowthattraveltakesatollonourhealth,particularlyshorttripsthatdontgiveustime
tosettleintoahealthyroutine.Entrepreneursareconstantlycomingupwithtravelaids,andfranklymost
seemoverpriced,offtarget,orjustmorebaggageforanalreadyoverweightsuitcase.Buthere,justintime
forthewintertravelseasonandfluseasonarefivetravelaidsthatreallydosomethinguniquetokeep
youhealthyontheroadandenroute.
1.SteriPenWaterPurifier
QuestionablewaterqualitycansabotageyourvacationfasterthanyoucansayWheresthebeach?The
SteriPen,Asmall,handheldbatterypoweredultravioletlightstick,takescareofthatproblemquite
handily.Rechargeablefromanyoutlet,itpurifiesahalfliterofwaterinunderaminute.(Killing99percent
ofbacteriaandprotozoasuchasgiardiaandcryptosporidium,accordingtoresearchtesting.)
Smallenoughtokeepinyourpurseorpocket,itsalsounobtrusiveenoughthatyoucanuseitin
restaurantswithoutcallingattentiontowhatyouredoing.WhileSteripenhasntbeenaroundlong,butits
alreadyrecommendedbyexperts.Iuseditontworecenttrips,onehotel,onecamping,anddidntgetsick.
(Butofcoursetheresnowaytoknowwhethertherewasanythinginthewaterthatwouldhavemademe
sick.)
2.SalineNasalSpray
Everwonderedwhytheairissodryonplanes?Itstartswithaltitude:Getabove30,000feetandtheresnot
alotofmoistureintheair.Addtheeffectsofthecabinsrecirculationsystemandyouvegotdesertlike
conditions.Unfortunately,whenthetissuesofyournoseandmouthdryout,itsabotagesthebodys
defensesagainstcoldandflugerms.thebodysnaturaldefensesystem.Andifyourealreadycongested
fromallergiesoracold,theproblemisevenmoreacute.
Withtherightgearyoullcomehomehealthierthanwhenyouleft.(photo:wikipedia)
Totherescuecomesthissimplesolution.Usesalinenasalspraybeforeyouboard,doctorssay,andatleast
onceinflightonlongertrips.Ifyouarealreadysufferingfromallergiesorafluorcold,takea
decongestantabouthalfanhourbeforetakeoff,recommendstheCentersforDiseaseControl.
3.GoodtoGo
Letsjustsayitconstipationisaconstantcompanionformanypeoplewhileawayfromhome.Why?
Thereareahostoffactors,includingchangesindiet,sleeppattern,thatcausetravelersconstipation,but
thesimplestandmostcommoncauseissimplychangingyourroutine,saystheDepartmentofHealthand
HumanServices.
WhatIlikeaboutGoodtoGoisthatitsspecificallyformulatedtoaddresstravelersconstipationwithout
theriskofgoingtoofaranddoingtheopposite,equallyproblematicwhileawayfromhome.Adays
regimenincludesseparatecapsulesformorningandevening,formulatedwithdifferentcombinationsof
fiber,magnesiumandchiaseedpowder.AdditionalplantbasedbowelstimulantsinthePMformulaset
youupforanefficientmorningbathroomtripbeforeyouheadoutforyourday.
4.PressureVentingEarPlugs
Oneofthemostcommoncomplaintsaboutairtravelisearpain,whichhappenswhenbarometricpressure
changesputpressureontheinnerear.Thesolutionisearplugs,buttheyhavetobetherightkindofear
plugs,designedtoletairthrough.OnekindrecommendedbytheAmericanTinnitisAssociationisE.A.R.
plugs,madeofbreathablefoam,whichallowairtoseepthroughsteadily.Anothertype,developedbythe
HouseEarInstituteandtestedbytheU.S.Navy,andisEarPlaneswhicharemadeofsiliconemolded
aroundacontrolledairventthatrespondstopressurechangesinthecabin.
5.DEETBasedInsectRepellent
Theresalotofscarynewsintheworldofvectorborneillnesses,makingbothmosquitoesandticks
serioushealththreats.MosquitoscancarryWestNilevirus,whichsickened5,674Americanslastyearand
killed286,CDCstatisticsshow.Justyesterday,Oklahomaannounced15newcasesofWestNile.
Mosquitoesalsotransmitdeadlydenguefever,whichwasconsiderederadicatedintheU.S.backinthe
1940s,butisback.DenguehascausedoutbreaksinTexas,FloridaandHawaiiinthepast15years,andis
extremelycommoninnorthernMexico,whichisntveryfaraway.

TickscarrynotonlythedreadedLymedisease,butRockyMountainSpottedFeverandbabesiosis,a
disgustingparasitethatinvadesredbloodcells.
WhyDEET?WhileDEETandanotheractiveingredient,picaridin,arebothveryeffectiveagainst
mosquitoes,onlyDEETisalsoeffectiveagainstticks,makingittheCDCstopchoice.Andwhilethere
wereonceconcernsaboutDEETssafety,theyvebeenlaidtorest.ThewatchdogEnvironmentalWorking
GroupusuallytheoneissuingtoxicitywarningspickedDEETasthebestrepellentafteravery
thoroughtestingandevaluationprogramin2013.
Afewmoretips:
1. Mosquitorepellentisnotwaterproofnomatterwhatmanufacturerssay.Reapplyafter
swimming,wading,fishing,boating,washingdishesyougetthepicture.
2. Insectrepellentswearofffast,particularlythoseatlowconcentrations.TheCDCsays
formulationswithunder10percentoftheiractiveingredientmaylastaslittleasanhour.Go
stronger,andreapplyassoonasbugscomebuzzingagain.
3. Noneedtogoabove50percent.WhilesomeDEETrepellentstoutDEETpercentagesinthe80s
and90s,therearenoadditionalefficacygainsafter50percent.