by Varsha Khatri, MA, SYT, MCMA
Travelling comes with excitement, but can also be met with stress. There is change to sleep, diet, routine, and even hydration. When away from home, habits change and this inevitably impacts the digestion. Staying away from home whether it is at a hotel, a resort, on a cruise, or anywhere that is not home, you are likely to imbalance your doshas. Especially Vata. The types of food you eat will change when you travel as you no longer have access to the same stock of foods that are currently in your kitchen. The amount of water you drink per day will also change and this will affect the quality of your bowel movements.
When travelling, Vata becomes imbalanced because Vata loves routine and stability and by travelling away from your normal day-to-day life, the king of the doshas is thrown off balance. This often leads to imbalanced digestion and can lead to problems such as constipation, bloating, and feeling gassy.
Here are some of my top tips for having healthier travels:
Vata Pacifying Diet
When travelling, it is important to have a Vata pacifying diet to counter the dry and rough qualities that travelling enhances. A Vata pacifying diet includes favouring warm and well-cooked foods. It is best to have soups, cooked vegetables and whole-grains. Out of the six tastes in Ayurveda of sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent, as a part of balancing Vata, it is best to favour sweet, sour, and salty tastes. This doesn’t mean having chocolates and foods high in sugar. Some great Vata pacifying foods include dates, figs, almonds, coconut, mango, carrots, cauliflower, rice, barley, yogurt, milk, lemons, citrus fruits, and of course, do have some salt in your diet. Spices like cinnamon, fennel, and cardamom are also helpful to balance Vata. It is best to eat at regular times throughout the day and avoid skipping meals.
Sleep Tips
It is not easy to sleep when you are having to sleep in a new bed in a different environment. If you have access to warm almond milk, nutmeg, and saffron, then have a glass of warm almond milk with nutmeg and saffron before bed to help you sleep better. Almonds are Vata-pacifying and nutmeg and saffron are natural sedatives. Otherwise, drink a cup of a soothing herbal tea, such as chamomile tea or Vata tea, to help you unwind and relax. Sleep is when the body rests and recovers.
Blissful Sleep will also help support the body with a restful night’s sleep especially when your mind is still carrying the effects of stress and anxiety from travelling.
Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated is also key when travelling. During long drives and especially when travelling by plane, it is quite easy to get away without drinking any water. But dehydration will dampen your digestive capacity and it will make you feel more tired. When flying, rather than having soft drinks, juices, or alcoholic drinks, go for water and drink lots of it. Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. By drinking water rather than fruit juices, soft drinks, or alcohol, you will have greater amounts of energy, a stronger digestive system, and you will recover quicker from any time zone changes.
Support Digestion
Most people struggle with keeping a strong digestion and having daily bowel movements while on holiday. Feeling constipated can leave you with a sense of heaviness and lethargy as you try and enjoy yourself. Therefore, start your day off with hot water with lemon which will aid in cleansing of the digestive tract. For Pitta types, avoid using lemon and just have plain hot water.
Alternatively, there are Maharishi Ayurveda supplements that can be taken to help facilitate daily bowel movements. Organic Triphala Plus can be taken to support your body in its natural ability to detox on a daily basis.
If you feel that you don’t have much of an appetite or that you are feeling too hungry, then Herbal Digest can help regulate your appetite and improve your digestion.
When travelling, follow the tips above and do the best you can to eat well, sleep peacefully, stay hydrated, and ensure you have daily bowel movements that leave you feeling fresh and clean. Keep in mind that when digestion is healthy and balanced, your energy levels will be higher and immune system will remain strong.
