Wanderlust Wednesdays: Avoid Tummy Troubles During Travel

Part of the joys of travelling is to indulge in different cuisines.  In my list, food comes second as to why we travel that's why my Husband and I also list down the food we want to eat at a certain place during our travel preparations.


Our preps also involves preparing our tummies for the food we may eat or drink during travel.  No one wants to be sick during the holiday, right?  


I have a simple tummy prep before travel and that is to eat yogurt.  Eating yogurt for a few days before travel helps as the healthy bacteria in yogurt is a powerful tool for staving off tummy troubles.  We usually have yogurt at home anytime of the year but I make sure that we have more yogurt intake before we travel.

During travel, we still eat yogurt at least once a week or drink Yakult to keep our tummies healthy.


Not into yogurt?  My Husband doesn't like yogurt very much.  Although he tries, he just can't finish a small tub.  So instead of forcing him, we also buy Yakult which he loves.


Lactose intolerant?  Get yourself a "probiotics" capsule from the pharmacy or health food store.  A good probiotics capsule should contain various strains of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium logum.  

Here are a few tips from HCF fit@wwwell on how to avoid tummy troubles during travel:

Don’t let illness spoil an overseas trip. There are some simple precautions you can take to help avoid tummy troubles abroad. 

Traveller's tummy can take the form of diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, or all three. According to Aussie Travel Advice, recent statistics suggest around 20% of travellers will lose at least one day of their trip to illness. This is due to unfamiliar germs infecting the digestive system.


Minimise the risk of tummy trouble by:

• Avoiding uncooked meals in developing countries. If you can't boil, peel or cook it, eat something else instead

• Avoiding seafood, it's a major risk in many countries

• Avoiding pre-cooked food. Hot food should be steaming all the way through

• Choosing thick-skinned fruit you can peel

• Avoiding dairy unless you can drink canned milk or you know it has been refrigerated

• Sticking to bottled beer and wine rather than mixed drinks

• Washing your hands regularly. Consider taking alcohol-based hand-wash with you.

Rules for water:

• Avoid tap water in developing countries

• Boil water for over a minute before drinking

• Buy iodine tablets to purify water before drinking

• Use clean water to brush your teeth

• When buying bottled water, always check the seal is intact.

Don't hesitate to see a doctor if you become ill and symptoms persist.

Happy Wednesday!