Vacations are a time to get away from our daily routine and, hopefully, experience some rest and relaxation. However, it is important to continue our natural lifestyle even when away from home!
Most of us are concerned about the quality of the air in our homes, as well we should be, especially if there are any family members with allergies or asthma. When traveling in a vehicle or airplane for an extended period of time, or staying in tight quarters such as a motel room, the issue of air quality is just as critical, if not more so. I would suggest purchasing a car air ionizer that plugs right into the cigarette lighter to provide fresh, clean air while you travel. It is also a good idea to have a larger but portable ionizer air purification unit that you can use in the motel room or at that all-too-musty cabin by the lake. These air purifiers are very effective at filtering out allergens and other pollutants, and are great for odors or musty smells that you might run into during your trip. I would suggest those that are based primarily on an ionizing system that includes a UV germ-killing lamp, a fan that circulates the ions and has no filters to worry about. A little ozone is all right, but too much, especially from older style ozonaters that use glass plates, can be very aggravating to some people’s lungs. This old technology gives off substances called nitrogen oxides that can cause headaches and other unpleasant symptoms for some people as well. For plane travel consider individual air-purifiers which are worn around the neck. They are inexpensive and well worth the purchase.
Water Quality
Water quality around the world and in the U.S. is extremely different from place to place. It's important to consider how healthy or unhealthy the water you are going to drink and cook with, as well as that you will shower in might be. The options are many. When traveling, the best bet is to bring along some purified water from your home filtration system, preferably in glass containers. You don’t want water in plastic jugs or bottles to be baking in a hot car. Plastics, especially under such conditions, can leach harmful chemicals into the water. Commercial bottled water is really a gamble as to the quality of what you are drinking. Many studies have found that a lot of bottle water, even in glass containers, is actually taken right from the tap of municipal water systems. The industry is not very well regulated, so you can’t always believe what you read on the label. Another option is to bring and use a water filtration carafe to provide clean water for your family. For purifying water for cooking or meals these become very efficient and useful. Another investment you might want to make is a water bottle for each member of the family with a filter built right in. The Wellness Sport Bottle is my first choice, hands down. Whatever your choice, you want to make sure that you have plenty of good, fresh water available at all times, especially if the weather is hot and/or you are physically active.
Once you stop for the night, or get to your destination, you have to think about the water you will shower in. This can be somewhat of a concern with some models of shower filters. A lot of establishments might be a bit upset if you do a little creative plumbing by changing the shower head in their bathroom during your stay. However, if you are staying at one place for any length of time, replacing the shower filter with your own healthy shower filter is certainly an option since many are very easy to put into place. There are filtering units available that are especially designed for travel applications, and you might want to consider investing in one of these. The amount of chemicals and toxins that can be absorbed just from one shower using unfiltered water is tremendous.
If you are doing any primitive camping and will be getting your water from a pump or a spring where the quality is unknown, I would suggest filtering it through a Wellness Water Carafe and boiling it just to be sure. Some bacterial contaminants are not effectively removed by all filtration systems, so boiling is a good idea just to be on the safe side.
What about Food?
This is a big one. Eating healthly while traveling is difficult, at best. It takes a lot of planning and forethought. Use the Internet to check on restaurants that serve healthy food in the city of your destination. Hit the health food store and/or farmers market the day before you leave and stock up on whole, nutritious foods to munch on while on your trek. Lots of fruit, fresh vegetables, whole grain snacks, nuts, and other munchies will keep your healthy diet in line, and save time and money for stopping to eat on the road. Succombing to fast foods and junk foods will make you sluggish and lethargic when you need lots of energy to enjoy yourself. It will also throw your whole system out of whack, and probably cause you to put on few pounds as well. A lot of sugary snacks will cause insulin spikes and crashes which will result in crankiness. If you have developed the discipline to eat well at home, do not give in to the temptation to go back to your old habits just because you are on vacation. Make sure to bring along a good-sized cooler to keep perishable foods in. A cold piece of fruit can taste pretty good on a hot day, especially during a long drive or after a vigorous hike.
Try to find accommodation that offer your own cooking facilities. This gives you a lot more control over your food choices and can save you a ton of money. However, I realize this is not always possible. Try to choose as wisely as you can if you must eat out. Salad bars are usually a good option that gives you some fairly healthy choices. Hopefully you can find one that isn’t laced with MSG or other preservatives. Don’t be afraid to ask! Choosing foods like baked potatoes, steamed vegetables and fresh veggie or fruit salads will be the healthiest. If you do stock up at the grocery store, wash your fruit and veggies well. Organic sources may be hard to come by while traveling.
Protection from the Sun
Chances are you’ll be spending quite a bit of time out of doors enjoying scenery and nature while on vacation, so you really have to be proactive about protecting yourself and your family from the damaging effects of excessive sun exposure. An all-natural sunscreen that doesn’t expose you to dangerous chemicals is a must. Remember that whatever you put on your skin can affect your entire body. Sunscreens are generally classified into two major types: chemical and physical. Chemical sunscreens act by absorbing the UV radiation from the sun which can be very damaging and dangerous to your skin. It stimulates free radicals that can be very destructive. The best types of sunscreens are the “physical” varieties that act by reflecting UV. But even physical sunscreens can contain harsh chemicals, so choose wisely and read the ingredients before purchasing. Any ingredients that have long names and sound like they came out of a chemistry textbook are probably not something you want to apply to your skin or that of your children. There are some excellent natural sunscreen products available not only protect your skin, but will nourish and moisturize it as well. If you are using a safe, effective product you can apply it often to ensure protection without having to worry. It is also a good idea to limit your time in the sun during the peak hours of exposure, typically 10am to 2pm. Be sure to take along a soothing all-natural lotion for after-sun application. Wearing protective clothing is always a good idea too. Vacation is a great opportunity to wear that floppy hat you keep on the closet shelf the rest of the year.
Watch Out for Bugs!
Mosquitoes, gnats, and other varmints can be very annoying, and can ruin a day outdoors if they are bothersome enough. But beyond that, it is becoming a health hazard to expose yourself to bug bites, with West Nile virus, Bird Flu, Meningitis, and other critical illnesses being potentially spread by mosquitoes. Tics are a big problem in many parts of the country as well, with Lyme disease being a real concern. There are some very safe products on the market that act as excellent natural bug repellants, but you should of course be careful and read the ingredients of anything you use, especially if you are putting it on your children. Stay away from anything with DEET in it. It works, but there are much better natural alternatives available that aren’t toxic. Some remedies that a lot of folks have had success with are supplementing with B-complex vitamins, eating raw garlic daily, or the application of an all-natural bug repellent made with essential oils. It is also a good idea to stay indoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. Perform a tic check on yourself, your children, and even your pets at least once a day when you are outdoors a lot or vacationing in heavily wooded areas.
Keep Up Your Wellness Routine
We often go on vacation to “get away from it all,” but one thing you don’t want to do is totally distance yourself from the healthy habits that have no doubt taken some time and effort to build up. If you are taking a regimen of nutritional supplements, bring them along and make sure you continue to take everything according to schedule. If you have a regular work out routine, try to keep it up during your vacation, as best you can. Of course, you can substitute other activities for your usual exercise program. For example, if you hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, I don’t think it would be necessary to go jogging that night.
The important thing to remember about vacations is that they can be wonderfully restorative to our spirit, mind, and body, but we shouldn’t take a vacation from taking care of ourselves just because we are away from the everyday routine. If we continue to treat our bodies well, a vacation will be another step towards wholeness that can help us feel more rested and prepared for the challenges that await us after the vacation is over.
Healthy Traveling!
DISCLAIMER: The statements enclosed herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products and information mentioned on this site are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your treating doctor. Oasis Advanced Wellness does not dispense medical advice, prescribe, or diagnose illness. We design and recommend individual nutritional programs and supplements that allow the body to rebuild and heal itself. The views and nutritional advice expressed by Oasis Advanced Wellness are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical service. If you have a severe medical condition, see your physician of choice.
