Out & About

When traveling, especially in close quarters with others, like on a train or airplane, other travelers expose you to viruses and bacteria. Also, if you have seasonal allergies, you’ll be exposed to more allergens, especially if you’re traveling to new locations during spring. When you combine these two immune disruptors, travel and allergies, you’re looking at a recipe for a miserable time.

However, there are things you can do to boost your immune system and manage your allergies during travel. Here are three tips you can employ during your next trip to stay healthy and enjoy your vacation.

1. Stay hydrated

You’ve heard it a million times, but it’s true. Drinking enough water is critical to maintaining your immune system. Staying hydrated is especially important during air travel. Have you ever noticed how thirsty you are during a flight? That’s because airplane cabins are typically kept at low humidity, leading to quicker dehydration.

You also may notice that your nasal passages dry out, which can worsen allergies after a flight. Make sure to carry a water bottle with you on your flight (although you’ll want to fill it after you go through TSA) and carry a saline spray to moisturize your sinuses.

2. Support your gut health

Did you know your gut is home to more than 70% of your body’s immune cells? By supporting your gut health, through nutritious foods and dietary supplements, you’re nourishing your immune health. While supporting immunity is important year-round, as spring begins your immune health can be put to the test with allergies and travel. “One way to support your immune health is through postbiotics. You’ve probably heard about the health benefits of probiotics and prebiotics, but you may not have heard about the newest biotic on the marketpostbiotics,” said Keri Gans, registered dietitian nutritionist and author of The Small Change Diet. “Postbiotics are inanimate yet effective. While each postbiotic is unique there are options available today that have been clinically studied and shown to support immune health.”

3. Stress less

Stress isn’t just a drain on your mental health. It can also have very real physical effects. Stress can worsen your allergies because it increases the release of histamines, which trigger allergy symptoms. This does not mean that stress causes allergies. However, an increase in histamines in the bloodstream can make existing allergies much worse. A few ways you can combat stress every day and during travel include:

* Meditating

* Relaxing exercises like yoga

* Getting plenty of sleep

* Listening to soothing music

* Eating a healthy diet

While it’s impossible to remove all stressors from your life, you can employ these and other strategies to manage your stress at work, home or abroad. And remember, you are on vacation!