Traveling can be beneficial for health, but there can also be challenges when it comes to eating a balanced diet, staying active, and protecting against travel-related illnesses.

People who travel frequently may find that jet lag, sudden changes in diet, or sitting down for long periods makes it difficult to follow their usual routine. However, there are ways to continue taking care of ones health while traveling for work or leisure.

Read on to learn more about staying healthy while traveling, including how to eat a healthy diet, exercise, reduce stress, and more.

Before traveling, there are precautions people can take to stay healthy. This may include:

Eating in a balanced way while traveling can sometimes be challenging. It may help to try:

Food safety is also an important consideration. Some of the foods that are usually safe to eat while traveling include:

Some of the options that carry a higher risk include:

It can be easy to forget to drink enough water while in transit. Visiting hot climates can also increase thirst. Drinking enough water is important for preventing dehydration.

When traveling, a person can hydrate by:

In some locations, tap water is not always safe for travelers. Even if the water looks clean, it can contain germs that cause water-borne diseases.

Factory-sealed bottled water is a safer option and may be the most convenient. People may need to use this exclusively for their drinking water while in some parts of the world and avoid swallowing any water from faucets.

Other drinks that may be safe include:

People should avoid:

People can also disinfect tap water by:

Frequent or long-haul travel can make it more difficult to exercise in a regular routine. Similarly, jet lag can interfere with a persons ability to get to the gym or do fitness classes when they land.

Some tips that may help with this include:

Sitting still for long periods can also increase the risk of developing blood clots in the legs. People can help prevent the development of clots while traveling by:

Travel can be stressful at times. This might be due to disruption in daily activities, culture shock, language barriers, and unexpected situations.

People can reduce stress while traveling by:

Additionally, people may find it helpful to have an extra day or two away from work when they get back so they can adjust to being home.

Between 43 and 79% of people who visit low- or middle-income countries experience travel-related illnesses. Most travel-related illnesses are mild, but they can be disruptive. In some cases, people require medical help.

Some examples of conditions people may experience while traveling include:

Most travel-related infections appear soon after returning home, but some can appear after several weeks or months, depending on their incubation period.

People can take steps to avoid these illnesses by:

Speak with a doctor if any unusual or severe symptoms develop during or after travel.

Travel can be beneficial to a persons well-being, but it can also require precautions that help people stay healthy while in new places.

Depending on the circumstances, people may need to adapt their diet, exercise in different ways, or consult a healthcare professional to help prevent certain illnesses before they travel.

People who would like tailored advice, or who have chronic conditions that require ongoing management, can speak with a doctor or travel health specialist about this.

Read more:
How to stay healthy while traveling for work or vacation - Medical News Today