This year, many travelers are planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Europe, spending weeks or months on the continent, bouncing between countries and cities. Long trips can take a toll on your mental and physical health, but there are some precautions and things you can take to make your vacation feel your best. “With the constant need to move between different time zones, climates and destinations, you need to be proactive about your health and wellbeing while traveling,” says Jessica Sepel, founder of Australian wellness brand JSHealth Vitamins. say. Here are some tips to stay healthy while traveling in Europe.
Invest in a refillable water bottle
Staying hydrated is key to feeling energized and keeping your immune system healthy. When sightseeing for hours under the scorching sun, it is important to avoid heatstroke, and it is also helpful to prevent jet lag. While many cities in Europe have public drinking fountains, tap water is generally safe to drink (but always double check first). That means investing in a refillable water bottle and carrying it around is more convenient, environmentally friendly, and money-saving than buying dozens of single-use plastic bottles. Sepel also warned travelers to be careful about consuming alcohol on board. “If you're drinking beer in the air, be sure to drink plenty of water,” she says.
Bring nutritional supplements
When you're constantly on the move and trying out countless cuisines, it's natural for your eating habits to become chaotic. Bring some important health supplements with you to avoid feeling sluggish or unwell. Meals can look a little different when you eat less home-cooked food, so Sepel recommends JSHealth's Greens + Collagen as a convenient way to maintain your nutritional intake while traveling. Contains green superfoods along with hydrolyzed marine collagen. She adds a formula with B-complex vitamins for energy, stamina and recovery (also good for jet lag) and zinc to boost immunity. “If you have bloating, taking a fennel seed supplement can help,” says Sepel. “When I travel, I always have her Detox + Debloat tablets on hand to relieve bloating while supporting the natural detoxification process.”
Buy travel pillows, headphones, and eye masks
If you're traveling between locations within Europe, sleep on planes and trains. Bring everything that will keep you comfortable while on the go, including a fluffy travel pillow, noise-cancelling headphones, and a velvet eye mask. Earplugs aren't a bad idea either, and may come in handy in hotel rooms with thin walls. To help reset a sleep schedule disrupted by moving between time zones, Sepel recommends napping for about three hours upon arrival, then waking up and continuing with your current time zone. “If you can then plan to go to bed at 7pm, it will help you acclimate and keep you on track for the rest of your trip,” she says. Try taking a high-quality magnesium supplement at night to relax your nervous system and wake up feeling energized and refreshed. ”
pack medicine bag
Wandering through pharmacies is not the way to spend your day off, especially if you have trouble finding the medication you need due to the language barrier. Before you travel, pack a small bag with helpful medications, such as pain relievers, antidiarrheal medications, antihistamines, bandages, decongestants, insect bite cream, and motion sickness medication.