Page 22 - Trending_041618

The travel warrior’s nutrition
guide: 5 easy steps to be
healthy on the go
(BPT) - U.S. residents logged 1.7 billion trips for leisure purposes in 2016, accord- ing to the U.S. Travel Association, and this number will likely grow in 2018. Whether you’re traveling for leisure or business, you shouldn’t lose sight of nutrition. It’s com- mon to think, “Hey, I’m on vacation, so I can throw my healthy diet out the window.” Wrong. Traveling can throw the body for a loop with time zone changes, shi s in sleep schedules and the availability of fast, conve- nient and highly processed foods.
Use these ve easy steps to make sure you stay healthy on the go this year.
1. Pack healthy snacks.
Dining while on the go usually translates to getting a quick hunger x that involves pro- cessed, high-fat foods. Make a conscious e ort to pack healthy snacks. Apples and nut butter, pretzels and hummus and dried, no-sug- ar-added fruit are a few healthy options.
2. Lighten your luggage.
It’s all too common for travelers to try to max out the weight of their checked lug- gage, which o en weighs in at 50 pounds. Carting around heavy luggage and bags can take a toll on the body.
One easy way to lighten your load is
to condense cumbersome toiletries. For instance, look at the prescription medi- cations and dietary supplements you’re packing. A 2018 Wake eld Research study, conducted for Vitamin Packs, found that more than half - 51 percent - of respondents tote along ve or more di erent types of pills when they’re traveling. And with age comes ailments. Baby boomers are the pill pack mules, with 64 percent taking ve or more types of pills along for the ride when they travel, compared to only 35 percent of millennials who bring the same amount.
e good news - you can leave dietary
supplement bottles and days-of-the-week pillboxes at home. Look for personalized vitamin subscription services, like Vita- min Packs (www.vitaminpacks.com), that combine customized dietary supplements into individual daily packs that can easily tuck into your carry-on luggage.
3. Don’t forget essential nutrients.
e introduction of personalized nutri- tion has made it much easier (and lighter) to bring your vitamins and supplements with you when you travel. It may not al- ways be convenient to grab a bright orange pepper or a bowl of fresh spinach while on the go. erefore, your body may be crav- ing folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin A, lutein, and just about every other phytonutrient.
“We shouldn’t sacri ce our nutrition simply because we’re away from our kitch- en,” commented Elizabeth Somer, regis- tered dietitian, author of “Eat Your Way
to Happiness” and Vitamin Packs medical advisory board member. “I always pack nutritionally rich go-to snacks when I’m
away from home and pack a multivitamin that delivers the essential nutrients my body needs to perform at its best.”
4. Keep your blood flowing.
If you’re planning a U.S. cross-country ight this year, direct ights can leave you sitting for ve hours or more. ese long periods of sedentary travel can lead to blood clots. Before you go, check with your doctor about adding an omega-3 sup- plement to your diet to maintain healthy blood ow.
5. Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate.
Water should be your No. 1 travel com- panion. Pack a reusable water bottle, so you can quickly ll up at water fountains located in many airports, train stations and bus stops.
As you take to the air, road or track this year, make nutrition a top priority. Your body will thank you and it will give you the energy you need to enjoy your time wherever your travels take you.
22 | TRENDING