Healthy Travel Tips

Riding in a car, bus or airplane seat can add up to a lot of time spent doing very little. Use that time to benefit your health by:

a) Practising relaxation – reduce stress by focusing on your breathing for a few minutes. Then inhale deeply through your nose, hold your breath a few seconds and exhale through your mouth. As you exhale, relax your face and shoulders.

b) Play mind games – exercise your mind to keep it sharp. Think of math problems to solve or play memory games. Trying new things and playing games or solving problems with speed are important.

c) Squeeze an object – there’s evidence that gripping an object like a foam stress ball or a spring loaded device and holding the grip for about two minutes may have a positive effect on blood pressure. Do this twice with each hand separately with a couple of minutes rest in between.

d) Eat healthy snacks – options include fruits, vegetables, unsalted nuts, a sandwich on whole grain bread and a low calorie or no calorie beverage.

Move your legs – if you are riding for more than an hour, gently but firmly contract leg muscles for a couple of seconds. Begin with lower leg muscles, then the thigh muscles to help move blood out of the legs.