How To Stay Healthy While Traveling

Staying healthy while traveling is one of the biggest challenges. You are taken out of your routine and thrown into a new place, with new foods, and so many things to see and do. There is little space left for your fitness routine or diet. This is why vacation weight is a thing.

Traveling also exposes you to new germs, spices, and environments your body isn’t used to; so getting sick is easier.

I used to never get sick when I lived in LA, but once I started traveling full-time, I would get sick constantly! This was mainly because of all the new things my body was getting exposed to and my change in diet and fitness.

It took a while for me to learn how to keep healthy while traveling – and these are the tips I’ve found work best. 

Tips For Staying Healthy While Traveling

Remember your vitamins

Disclaimer: I’m not a health professional. I am just sharing what works for me. 

Traveling, especially long term, can really take a toll on your mood. I find myself going from happy to sad, high energy to almost no drive, every other day. T

his is because I’m constantly on the go and can’t do everything I would do back home to stay healthy – mentally and physically.

I’ve found that taking Maca, vitamin B12, and magnesium supplements has really helped with keeping my energy levels high, has helped stop the mood swings, and has given me back the drive to keep exploring the world!

 Want more info on travel vitamins?

Check out this helpful post by one of my favorite solo-travel bloggers

Walk instead of taking public transportation

I am a firm believer in walking everywhere when traveling and rarely use public transport.

Walking is the best way to experience a new destination, find non-touristy spots, and get a real feel for the city. Walking is also a great way to get your exercise in since, lets face it, you probably won’t be using your hotel’s fitness center much…

I walk for hours a day and it’s how I keep myself lean even when I eat for 3 people (yea, I’m a foodie, just check my Insta stories)

Check out my carry-on only travel essentials guide for your next trip!

Limit your meat and dairy intake

I was a strict vegan for about 6 months…and then I went to Spain.

I think one of the best things about traveling to new and exotic lands is trying the local cuisine.

In Europe, the food is amazing in every country, but most of it consists of dishes with either lots of meat or lots of dairy. So not vegan! I always feel my best when I don’t consume meat or dairy, but also want to try the typical dishes of each destination. To balance this out, I allow myself to eat the local foods the first few days in that new destination, and then I switch back to my vegan diet.

I’ll usually be in a place for a week, so the first 2 days will be about trying local flare while the rest are spent detoxing. It’s not for everyone but it worked for me.

Now, however, I have switched back to vegan because I just enjoy that lifestyle and it’s what makes me feel best. If you’re vegan, just look for vegan cafes that offer versions of the traditional food. You’ll usually find them easily in the bigger cities.

Drink LOTS of water (& green tea)

Staying hydrated is SO important for your health. I’m always shocked when I hear of people who don’t drink water since it is vital for your organs to function properly. When I’m home I drink between 10-15 glasses of water per day. When I’m traveling, and spend most of my days walking, I simply buy 1 liter water bottles throughout the day. If the tap water is safe to drink, I’ll buy one bottle and refill it.

Another thing I’m a strong believer in is the power of green tea. I like having green tea every morning as it cleans your system and speeds up your metabolism. By drinking green tea in the morning (and throughout the day) you’re helping your body cleanse itself and process all that yummy food you keep eating!

I hope these tips help keep you healthy while traveling!

Do you have any tips/tricks for keeping yourself healthy while traveling? Let me know in the comments below!

xx, Karen