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Healthy Travel

5 tips to stay healthy while on vacation

Making time for vacations is an important part of balancing our lives. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a longer trip to an exotic locale, time away offers the break from routine we need to rest, reset and recharge. But having fun doesn’t mean all your good habits need to disappear. With a little planning, you can tap into the secrets of staying healthy while on vacation.

Here are 5 of our favorite tips:

1. Indulge a little, but don’t overdo it: Vacations are often a time where your normally-healthy diet can go off the rails. Food at airports can be notoriously expensive and unhealthy, as vendors know that travelers are looking for something convenient, familiar, and tasty.

Once you reach your destination, resorts with buffet lines encourage you to heap more on your plate than you are used to eating—and entice you back for seconds. And going out to restaurants more than you normally would means you’re likely seeing larger portions of food placed in front of you than you’d fix yourself at home.

Instead of overspending on unhealthy food while traveling, pack your own. Stock up on healthy snacks like nuts, fruit, crackers, and whole grains or consider pre-packing one of your favorite sandwiches for the flight.

In the buffet line or at a restaurant, focus on portion control, advises a WebMD article on how to eat on vacation. Think about ordering an appetizer-size portion or share a meal with a friend. Skip the fried entrees, and make sure you’re working whole grains and a handful of colorful fruits and vegetables onto your plate every day.

Start the day out strong, even if it means stocking your hotel or vacation spot with cups of instant oatmeal and pieces of fruit for an easy, healthy breakfast.

2. Bring proper vitamins along: Combat the stress and fatigue of travel by bringing along the proper vitamins to keep your body fueled for the long journey ahead.

Traveling can expose you to all sorts of germs. Stock up on immunity-boosting vitamins, like NutriliteTM Immunity Echinacea or NutriliteTM Vitamin C Extended Release to stave off illness on your journey.

If you’re worried that you might begin to feel lethargic after such a long stretch of travel, bring along Vitamin B12, which can  aid in the maintenance of a healthy metabolism while providing energy.

To save space, consider a multivitamin that can cover several bases. NutriliteTM Double XTM is available in a 10-day supply that is perfect for travel.

You should always consult with your physician or healthcare professional before consuming any dietary supplement.

 3. Don’t skimp on sleep: Staying up past your bedtime might be expected on vacation, especially when traveling to a new time zone, but shifting your regular schedule too much could leave you sleep-deprived, according to the nonprofit National Sleep Foundation. Keeping to your regular schedule as much as possible should leave you feeling well-rested. A supplement like NutriliteTM Sleep Health can also help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep, which may help you adjust to your new time zone.

4. Watch your alcohol intake: Fruity drinks with little umbrellas may be the hallmark of relaxing vacations, but too much alcohol will leave you feeling dehydrated and unhealthy. Slim your intake by opting for clear alcohol over ice instead of beer or mixed drinks. And make sure to hydrate after drinking alcohol with water, XS™ Sports Twist Tubes, or sports drinks.

5. Don’t ditch your workouts: Days lounging by the water may sound idyllic to some people but halting your regular workouts during vacation could leave you feeling sluggish and out of sorts. Plan to find time for exercise. Maybe your daily run can happen on the nearest beach, or a day of sightseeing on foot will mean surpassing that 10,000-step mark. If you’re staying at a resort or hotel, see if it has a workout facility available.

With a little prep work, you’ll be able to enjoy your vacation and still stay healthy.