Renee Naturally

HEALTHIER TRAVEL, NATURALLY

On flights, unfortunately, it’s not just passengers that board the plane. Bacteria and viruses hitch along with their host for a free ride, making planes a hotbed for illness. Combined with cramped conditions, lack of sleep, radiation, boredom and mediocre food, plane travel is known to ‘throw the body around’ a bit, but luckily there are options for making it a smoother ride.  Prior to take off, you may want to take on board some of these tips for a more comfortable and healthier flight. 

Chose a healthier meal: Airline food has come a long way from just your standard “beef” or “chicken” options. Airlines now offer meals that are suitable for a wide variety of diets, from vegetarian to medical to religious. During the booking process, you have the option of purchasing a special meal. Low sodium is a very good option as it helps prevents fluid retention and is less likely to have MSG (which unfortunately, many meals have to enhance flavor). For short flights, eating prior to boarding or bringing your own healthy snacks is your best bet, but on long-haul, you’ve just got to do the best that you can.

Limit carry-on luggage:
Checked baggage fees are encouraging travelers to carry on more and more stuff,  but on a long-haul flight this could burn you; anything that is under the seat in front of you just means less legroom and a more cramped living space for hours…and hours…and hours. Don’t bring so much on that you compete for your own sleeping space!

Board relatively rested: 
Don’t bank on the idea of a long-haul flight being a good place to catch up on sleep. As attractive as it seems to get on a long-haul flight extremely tired, hoping to sleep the trip away, it doesn’t always go according to plan (babies screaming, turbulence, Mr Chatty next to you…) Even if you are well rested, if its long-haul, you’ll be on the plane long enough to catch a few winks. Just listen to your body. If your eyes start to droop, get out the eye covers and earplugs, and go with it.

Choose the right seats: Pre-booking an aisle seat or exit row is always a good idea, so you can get up and walk around whenever possible (and if you’re being good and drinking loads of water, you will need this to go pee frequently!) If you haven’t had the chance to choose great seats before your flight, there is always room for one last shot. Board the plane last so that you can scope out any spare seats or aisles (so you can lie down to snooze) and if there is space, make an (orderly) dash for it!

Avoid additional radiation: Flying already exposes us to huge amounts of radiation. Full-body ‘backscatter’ X-ray scanners have recently been introduced at many airports and are generating controversy because of the radiation that they emit. Authorities maintain that these scanners emit safe levels of radiation, but most people agree that we should avoid being exposed to additional radiation whenever possible. You may not want to go through them and, thankfully, authorities understand.  The alternative to these so-called ‘strip-search’ screenings is known as an ‘enhanced’ pat-down (you just say that you want to ‘opt out’ of the scan and then someone of the same sex gives you a physical pat down to ensure you aren’t carrying any weapons etc.)

Clear the nasal passages: If you’re congested, using a ‘Neti pot’ for a few days before the flight can be very helpful. It’s a ceramic pot that uses a salt-water solution to flush out the nasal cavity.

Boost your immunity: Get your immune system pumping before you go. Some supplements to consider are Echinacea, Kyolic garlic, Spirulina, Zinc and vitamin C. I also carry vitamin C powder on the plane with me and take it a few times during the flight (powder is absorbed faster than pill form). Keep that immune army fighting full flight!

Bring healthy snacks: Carry nuts and seeds, dried fruits, fresh fruit (just remember to leave anything uneaten on the plane so you don’t get stung by customs!)

Avoid artificial sleeping tablets: These can leave you feeling groggy, and if you are inclined to have a tipple on flight…alcohol and sleeping tablets are not a wise mix. Jet lag, hangover, and sleeping tablet haze – not the best way to start navigating a new city! Valerian is an herb used as a natural sleep aid. It can be taken (following directions) en-route, and is also used to help adjust to new time zones by helping people fall asleep at their desired time. Unlike other sleep aids, valerian is not believed to be addictive or cause grogginess the next morning.

Get moving: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the formation of blood clots in deep veins, and is a known risk of longer flights (the risk of developing DVT on flights up to four hours is small, but increases as travel time increases). The combination of being immobile along with the effects of dehydration increases the risk of DVT on long flights. To help prevent it, the following is beneficial; walking up and down the aisles of the plane; flexing and stretching your legs to encourage blood flow; wearing loose clothing; drinking plenty of fluids; and avoiding alcohol. Also, if you’re at increased risk for DVT, your doctor may recommend wearing compression stockings while traveling or taking a blood-thinning medicine before you fly.

Dress comfortably: Loose-fitting clothes – no skinny jeans or anything that could impede blood flow or cause your ankles to swell. Dress in layers as airlines are notoriously hit and miss with the temperature.

Avoid sugar: Pass on the sugary foods or beverages. Too much sugar can have a dramatically negative impact on the immune system and the body’s ability to fight infection. It’s wise to minimize sugar consumption prior to the flight also.

Stay hydrated: Cabin air systems control pressure, airflow, air filtration and temperature. The continued recycling of cabin air, together with the low air pressure, decreases cabin humidity. As a result, your body loses water more rapidly causing dehydration, often without you even noticing (perhaps because you’re too absorbed in back-to-back movies?) Dehydration can contribute to jet lag, headaches, dry skin and nasal irritation. Avoid diuretics such as coffee and caffeinated soft drinks.

Prevent dryness of your skin, eyes and airways:  Plane air dries out your mucus membranes, which reduces your resistance to infection. Keeping these membranes moist with saline spray may help. Use moisturizer or spritzs (ensure that they are under 100ml) for your skin and saline eye drops.

Practice good hand hygiene: Wash your hands before you eat. Don’t put your unwashed hands in your mouth or rub your eyes. Natural hand sanitizer gels are now available from some organic brands – yes!

Prevent motion sickness: Ginger supplements may help prevent nausea. Take these before you start feeling sick if you know that you are prone to being nauseous (or if the Captain announces at the beginning of the trip that they are expecting to encounter turbulence along the way)

Natural relief for travel anxiety: Travelling can cause major and debilitating anxiety for some people. The Bach flower remedy ‘Rescue Remedy’ can help alleviate flight nerves. The homeopathic remedies ‘Aconite’ and ‘Argentum’ can be useful for calming the nerves and reducing agitation.

If you are lucky enough to have a journey planned in the near future, safe travels!

Live well, live long, live naturally

Renée x