A HEALTHIER WAY TO FLY
As the summer gets into
full swing, many of us are getting ready for those away from home races.
Traveling has certainly become an event in and of itself with long lines
at airports and crowded flights, delays, time changes etc. Here are
some tips to help you enjoy a healthier trip:
Preflight advice:
·
Prepare for your departure: when you buy your tickets,
request an aisle seat to make it easier to stretch your legs.
·
Preorder any special meals you may want.
·
Wear loose clothing that is layered so that you can adjust
to shifts in cabin temperature.
·
Do easy aerobic workouts in the 48 hours before you travel.
There is no sense in stressing your immune system and making yourself
vulnerable before boarding an aircraft. Plan your travel into your
workout schedule.
·
Try Echinacea: as a preventative measure, take some
Echinacea the day before and the day of travel. This helps to boost the
immune system, and reduces the risk of colds and infections.
·
Stay cool and calm in line: maintain a positive attitude
while waiting in ticket or baggage lines. Take a few deep breaths and
realize that getting agitated will not help anything along.
In Flight:
·
Stay hydrated: the humidity in an aircraft is kept very low,
so drink plenty of water, keep yourself hydrated, and prevent your skin
and mucous membranes from drying out.
·
Walk down the aisle: make it a point to move about the cabin
especially on longer flights. Taking a stroll will keep the blood
circulating and help minimize the swelling in your ankles and feet.
·
Loosen up: with a little ingenuity you can stretch out
cramped legs, arms, back and neck muscles. Try heel raises, toe taps,
ankle circles, neck and shoulder rolls to undo kinks, keep blood flowing
and limit achiness.
Destination:
·
Reset your body clock: crossing time zones can really throw
off your body's natural rhythms. Try and adjust immediately to the local
meal times, as that will help get your body into normal sleep patterns.
·
Doing a light workout after arriving at your destination
helps to work out the kinks from traveling. When you get to your hotel
room, go out for a light jog or even a walk to help loosen things up.
