You’ve already made a reservation, you’ve sorted out your appointments for a week or two, you’ve activated your automatic email response that you’re out of the office and mentally you’ve tuned in for pleasant experiences to indulge in your well-deserved vacation. And now that you're really on your way, you’re supposed to feel great, but something's wrong !?
When I used to regularly travel for living, I’ve encountered constipation during the days on the move and following the arrival at a new place, but it turns out billion people who catch a flight, a train or a car are disturbed by more bloating, gasses and even abdominal pain. This is a tourist constipation, which is a upset of the usual schedule for going to the bathroom for one or several days due to travel.
Constipation may occur for a number of reasons: it could be caused by a sudden change in diet or physical activity as well as changes caused by health conditions. The traveler constipation, however, often occurs during and shortly after a long journey, inactivity, bingeing (usually processed and salty foods), shortage of water and jet lag. As a result, the intestines become lazy and they slow down their work.
Let's see why this happens and how you can deal with the inconvenience caused by it.
Why?
- Long gone are the days when travel really required an act of movement. Nowadays we take a seat in a car, an airplane or another vehicle and — before we know — we arrive at a new place. Guts do what legs do. It’s simple. The shortage of physical activity makes them lazy and slow. They literally consider us as being asleep so they "don't bother us" unless it's really very important. Everybody knows what it's like to wake up in the morning and in an hour or so (time may vary) to get the call.
- The second reason is what we put in the traveler’s basket or are get served on our folding tables. On the road we usually grab some packaged food, which is well processed and usually rich in additives for a longer shelf life. Where's Grandma's Stew? You simply can’t be bothered being a fuss! The same goes during flights. Even during the long-haul flights, the on-board menu have seldomly a real cooked food.
- Since 2001, water has become an enemy #1 in the aviation. But let’s be honest, how often do you sip water while driving a car or riding one, watching a movie on your tablet. Dehydration is a key reason for being irregular. The large intestine has the ability to squeeze the last drop of water out of our feces and recycle it when there it lacks one.
- Our circadian rhythm is also very important, especially when it comes to a considerable jet lag. Simple math can help you figure out if you normally go to the bathroom at 7 am in London, in Bali the calling will be at 2 pm. This is exactly when you’re tanning laying on the beach signaling your gut to take its time. And, since that’s exactly what your guts do, you won’t let the dogs out before dusk.
How?
- Eat real foods rich in fiber whenever you can. Load your travel basket with bananas and apples instead of chips and junk. If you crave anything salty, roasted almonds or walnuts work just as fine.
- Drink water as much as possible. Even if you travel by car, any gas station offers basic amenities. And the aforementioned fibers are absolutely useless for you without water helping them do their job.
- Move at every opportunity. And I don’t mean just roaming the souvenir shops, but also doing squatting, stretching and jumping. That always works.
- Sleep as much as possible - either as you travel or after that. Sleep regulates the circadian rhythm and there is nothing more relieving than waking up from a familiar call.
- Prunes, apricots (fresh, juiced, dried or jammed) and beet root (especially its juice) will never disappoint you and act as good as castor oil, which is your last resort before seeing a doctor. And if you are to get there, reduce fork-and-knife exercise first. You don't try to fight fire with fire.
Do you have other challenges going to the bathroom not associated to traveling? Maybe it's time to take decisive steps towards your health without drugs - easily and effectively.