Depending on how long a journey is, travelers usually find it difficult to maintain some healthy habits while traveling. Most of them just want to sit in there and have the journey completed even if the journey were to last for more than 6 hours! Whether you are getting on a flight for a business trip or some sort of vacation or going by any other means of transportation, there are some healthy tips to take into consideration during any journey and one of the most important is making sure to stay hydrated. Dehydration can worsen a jet lag effect if you flew for long, making it more difficult for you to adjust to the time change. Here are some tips that can help you stay hydrated during any journey.

Take a water bottle with you

Most travelers prefer to leave their water bottles behind because of their bulky or heavy nature. No sooner would you have moved than you would realize how useful it would have been if you had taken it along. This is especially true when you are doing road trips and it is a very sunny day. If you don’t want too much load, how about investing in a collapsible water bottle? They are lightweight and fold up very small when empty. If you are traveling by air, most airports have stations to refill your water bottle for the flight. So, you can keep it empty until you get through security. If you are doing a road trip, you can have a refillable container with you because it will make it easier for you to stay hydrated throughout the trip. You can make occasional stops to get a refill. One advantage of going with your water bottle and refilling from safe sources is that you get pretty sure that your water is safe.

Use water purifiers and filters

If you are not sure that the water you have is safe for drinking, you can use some water purifiers. It is always necessary to have some form of water purifier with you. Water filters are a good one to have with you when traveling. This is because it is possible that you may be going to a destination whose water sources are not fully trusted. The main importance of water filtration is to prevent water-related illnesses. Those with poor immune systems are usually more exposed to experiencing the bad effects from taking contaminated water from taps so it is important to consider installing them in your houses. Aqua water filters are usually the most used and it is proven to yield good results in making your drinking water safe.

Eat more of fruits and vegetables

This is another way to ensure that there is enough liquid in your system while you do journeys. Many fruits and vegetables have a lot of water content and would make perfect choices for some people who do not like to take water during long journeys. Some people usually have the feeling of getting sick when traveling and so try to stay away from anything like food or water. Fruits can help here. Examples of fruits that are rich in water are berries, watermelon, pineapple, oranges, peaches, and cashews. Water-rich vegetables include cucumbers, lettuce, zucchini, and celery. If you have some of these with you along your journey, it will help you stay hydrated till the end of your journey and then you can take a lot of water.

Drink a lot of water before setting out

This can come in handy also and since you can easily ease yourself at the convenience on the bus, train, ship, or even on the plane, you can take a lot of water prior to the start of your journey. If you take enough water, it could last very long in your system and help you stay hydrated. If you will be taking a filled water bottle with you, that can serve as your reserve and it is still advisable to drink a lot at home or just before you set out. This is because you may not know what the water situation will be like along your journey. You also need to be sure that you are taking water that is absolutely safe from germs.

Stay away from dehydrating foods

Usually, salty and sugary foods can drain you of a lot of water and these should be avoided while traveling unless you are very sure that you can access enough safe water to atone for the dehydrating effects. Some of these foods are ones usually marketed to travelers like fried food, salty snacks or biscuits, and chilled sugary drinks. An ice-cold bottle of coke could sound like some cool refreshment on a hot sunny day during a road trip but within a few minutes, it would occur to you that your body system feels dehydrated. This also goes for alcohol and coffee.

Final word

It is a healthy habit to stay hydrated and there are a lot of medical theories to prove that. Up to three-fifths of the human body is made of water and since passing out urine, respiration, and also sweating takes out water from your system, it is necessary to refill gradually. Enough water in your body helps you sleep better, improves cognition and mood, regulates the body temperature, prevents infections, keeps your joints lubricated, and keeps your organs functioning properly. These and many other reasons are why you should stay hydrated.

Post written by: Lisa Mottins