Exploring the Trip Without The Ache
If you wish to enjoy the street food without facing any unforeseen consequences, you need a well planned strategy that includes more than just carrying a bottle of pink antacid.
The Golden Rule:Boil, Cook And Peel
This is the best defense mantra against waterborne diseases while on a trip for any classic traveller.
In most of the regions, tap water is the main culprit. This includes ice cubes, brushed teeth and even the water that is left on freshly washed salad leaves. Drink only the water which is tightly packed and filtered.
Also, if you cannot peel the fruit by yourself, then strictly avoid it. Pre-cut veggies or fruits available in markets have often been sitting out or washed in local tap water.
Prepare Your “Internal Armor”
Don't wait for the last minute until you are made to think about your gut health.
Start taking high quality, shelf stable probiotics at least two weeks before you board your flight, so that your gut health is protected and can fight against any kind of bacteria. Look out for strains such as “Saccharomyces boulardii,” specifically researched to prevent the traveller’s diarrhea.
Always keep activated charcoal in your travel bag. If you doubt that you have taken something “foreign,” then immediately taking it can help flush out the toxins from your body before they are in a position to create any full blown crisis.
Strategizing Street Food Eating
No one is told to avoid street food, often it's the best part of the trip. However, you have to stay a little bit cautious before consuming anything in a new place. You just have to behave like a common man, not as a tourist.
Always eat at the stalls with the longest lines. A huge waiting line before a food stall often means the food prepared there is absolutely fresh and has not been sitting in the sun. One thing to bear in mind is, always look out for and choose only those vendors who cook the food right in front of your eyes. Heating the food at a high temperature kills most of the “gut enemies.”
Don't Forget About Travel Dehydration
On the other side of the trip, the stress of flying and not to forget, the anxiety to travel in different time zones can bring your digestion process to a halt.
Travelling through planes can make you really feel dehydrated. So, keep an aim to drink at least 2 litres of water a day before you are boarding your flight.
Taking a small magnesium supplement after having your dinner can help in relaxing your digestive system and keep you regular despite having changes in your usual schedule.
Pro-Tip: Pack and carry a “tummy kit” with rehydration salts (ORS), an antacid and an anti-diarrheal. It's better to have it and not need it than to be searching for a pharmacy in a language you don't speak.
