Meeting your body’s dietary needs during demanding outdoor activity can be tough enough at home, but even more so when engaged in adventure travel. Proper care must be taken to ensure you do not suffer from illness caused by not eating the right foods or dehydration.
Most adventure travel destinations are in far off lands. When traveling on an aircraft, especially during long flights, it’s important to ensure proper hydration, even when there is no natural thirst. Airline cabins pump recirculated air devoid of natural moisture. By drinking water every two hours, the body not only replenishes itself, but strengthens it’s immune system to fight off airborn bacteria. For those who feel light headed, almost faint, the problem can reach beyond dehydration, with a need to replenish electrolytes. By sipping a sports drink, empowered by electrolytes, the body can be restored to its natural balance.
Adventure travel can be physically demanding with outdoor sports, aquatics and hiking. To remain in good physical condition to fully enjoy your trip, it’s well advised to pack some essential vitamins and supplements, especially if you are going to an area where good fresh food is difficult to obtain. A multi-vitamin may be good enough for home, but some extra power for endurance can be had through Omega 3 Fatty Acids. This supplement, also known as fish oil, is a natural lubricant for the joints, and may give you an extra buffer with your knees for prolonged activity such as cycling, hiking and swimming.
Potassium is another source easily depleted from the body due to physical exhaustion. If you begin to feel light headed, you may need to replenish your potassium. Try eating a banana or taking at least 4 ounces of fresh, natural orange juice. Both are loaded with potasium and will return your stamina for activity.
For sports enthusiats who are always on the go, protein is a viable source to sustain the body for hours. However, when traveling, people pay little attention to their dinner plates, feeling a sense of freedom from a regimented diet. To avoid mid day fatigue, try eliminating or grossly reducing your intake of sugar and white bleach flour. These substances, plentiful in desserts, provide a quick snap of energy from the instant surge of glucose, but will cause a “crash”, or acute fatigue a few hours later. A little dietary discipline at the dessert bar will make a world of difference when you’re ready for hiking or biking.
Eating sensibly while on taking part in adventure travel activities is not only vital for endurance, but is part of the investment you made for the trip. What good does it do to spend the money, but not have the energy and stamina to enjoy it? By improving your eating habits, reduce sugar and snacking, and taking along the necessary supplements, you will be able to surf the ocean rather than channel surf from a rocking chair. Health and vitality starts with the dinner plate and some discipline. It’s up to you how good you want to feel. Nobody can do it for you.
Tags: Adventure holidays, Adventure travel, Dietary advice for adventure travel, Dietary advice for expeditions
