How To Cope With Digestive Problems While Traveling

Finally, you’re on your well-deserved vacation! But then, after you have finally arrived at your destination and are ready to relax, your stomach starts acting up. Maybe your stomach is a bit upset or you’re feeling a bit nauseous from the long flight? Maybe you shouldn’t have chosen the spiciest dishes from the hotel buffet? Maybe you’re getting bloated because you haven’t had a bowel movement for days and you can feel your shorts getting tighter around your belly? Nothing to be embarassed about. Yep, we’ve all been there…

Therefore, we’ve come up with a little cheat sheet on what to pack in your travel kit to keep your belly happy.

Against nausea

• Ginger tea / peppermint tea
• Chew on a piece of ginger
• Drink lemon juice or keep a piece of lemon in your mouth
• fresh air
• nibble on crackers or toast

Against stomach cramps

• Camomile tea
• Fennel tea
• Mallow tea
• Several smaller meals
• Hot-water bottle
• No fatty foods
• Avoid foods which are hard to digest, like: cabbage, bell pepper, mushrooms, onion, leek, etc.
• No hot spices, like: chili, pepper

Myth: Coke against diarrhea
When struggling with diarrhea, make sure you provide your body with sufficient fluids and minerals – especially sodium and potassium. Coke contains lots of sugar which deprives your intestines even more of the liquids they need. As a consequence, your diarrhea will get even worse. Therefore, don’t try to combat them by drinking a coke, but nibble on some pretzel sticks instead (they contain sodium). Or, even better, try one of the following remedies:

Against diarrhea

• Grated apple (peel included)
• Mashed banana
• Carrot cream: Cook 500g in 1 l water, then puree and add boiled water until you’ve got 1000g; season with 10g salt
• Mashed carrots: Cook 500g carrots in ¼l water, then puree them; add ½ tsp salt and 2 tsp corn sugar, as well as a dash of lemon juice
• Dried blueberries: Nibble on them every now and then, max. 300g per day
• Cocoa with water: Mix unsweetened cacao powder with ¼ l boiling water; sweeten with corn sugar, if necessary
• Mashed blueberries: Bring ¼ l water, 20g dried blueberries, cloves and a cinnamon stick to a boil, strain and sweeten with corn sugar, if necessary
• Rice gruel: Cook 50g short-grain rice with a little salt and nutmeg in ¼ l water until soft; mix and strain
• Blueberry tea: Let 1 Tbsp dried blueberries soak in cold water for 10 min, then boil for another 10 min ⇒ drink max. 500ml blueberry tea per day
• The “Rossi Solution”: 1/3 Russian tea, 1/3 sodium solution, 1/3 fresh orange juice, corn sugar
• DIY drinks: isotonic drinks

Against constipation

• Drink a lot
• Several smaller meals per day
• Let dried plums soak in water over night; drink the water & eat the plums the next morning
• Acidophilus milk
• Whole grain products
• A glass of orange juice on an empty stomach
• Fruit & vegetables, raw or as a juice
• Flax seeds, psyllium husk
• Avoid rice, bananas, white bread, cakes, cookies

With this list, you’re good to go & prepared for an upset stomach when out and about. Make sure you always pack some camomile, fennel or mallow tea in your first-aid kit or carry-on luggage. In addition, throwing a cherry pit pillow in your suitcase is always a great idea. Regarding acute problems, consult a local doctor or pharmacy or call your family physician.

I wish you a great, relaxing vacation!

Bye for now,
Vera

PS: Print this little cheat sheet with just one click (next to the social media icons) and pack it in your bag to start your vacation with a great (gut) feeling 😉

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