All we really want to do is lie comfortably on the beach in our new swimwear, dig our toes into the sand and relax, but an unpleasant feeling in our stomach tears us out of our idyll and we have to rush to the nearest toilet in a foreign country - unfortunately, gastrointestinal complaints on vacation and when traveling are a problem for many people that makes everyday life difficult. Particularly abroad, hygiene standards are often different, the drinking water is heavily chlorinated or the local food is too spicy for European standards. All of this can lead to digestive problems and significantly limit the relaxing time and therefore put the well-being on vacation into perspective.
In this article, we would like to explain to you exactly how our intestines react to culinary conditions abroad, why jet lag can disrupt our digestion and why so many people generally suffer from diarrhea and stomach pain when abroad.
We would also like to show you natural and efficient ways to prevent potential digestive problems and optimally prepare your intestines for your trip abroad.
How can I prevent traveler's diarrhea?
There are various ways to prevent traveler's diarrhea abroad. Well-known methods include only eating cooked meat and fully cooked fish and avoiding fruit that you have not washed yourself. Some people also say "no" to ice cubes in restaurants. Many vacationers also avoid street food and ice cream completely and only drink packaged drinks. If you buy fruit or vegetables at street markets, you should wash them thoroughly before eating them - if necessary even with packaged mineral water if the local tap water quality is unsuitable for consumption.
Foods that require caution when eating abroad:
You should pay particular attention to the freshness and quality of the following foods on your vacation:
- meat and fish
- fruit and vegetables
- ice cream and ice cubes
- buffet food
In established restaurants and hotels you can in principle enjoy a medium rare steak or eat sushi abroad, but you have to weigh this up for yourself on site and decide on a situational basis. Visits to the local weekly market are a part of the experience for many holidaymakers. If you buy fruit or vegetables at street markets, you should wash them thoroughly before eating them - if necessary with packaged mineral water if the local tap water quality is not suitable for consumption. You don't have to do without street food either: watch the preparation yourself and the selection of ingredients - if everything looks fresh and clean, then you can also enjoy street food. Basically, when buying and eating meat and fish you should pay attention to what you pay attention to at home: color, smell and taste generally give a good indication of the freshness and quality of animal products. Fry beef and salmon abroad so that you don't take any risks.
Taking charcoal tablets when traveling?
For many holidaymakers, charcoal tablets are a must in their first aid kit. It's easy to explain why many people swear by charcoal tablets.
Activated charcoal has the ability to bind substances in the intestines. If you suffer from severe diarrhea, the charcoal tablets will slow down the frequency with which your intestines empty because the pathogens in your intestines are bound. The activated charcoal acts as a kind of framework with pores that absorb the undissolved parts in the intestines, such as bacteria or toxins. Even gases can be absorbed by the medical charcoal, which in turn is beneficial for flatulence.
In other words: If you have diarrhea and take charcoal tablets, you don't have to go to the toilet as often and can counteract a bloated stomach. This can be very practical and tempting in the short term for beach holidays and the busy pool in the fancy hotel.
Nevertheless, you should not overdo it with the charcoal tablets and only use them for a short period of time and specifically, as the activated charcoal not only binds bacteria and potential toxins, but also all other nutrients that your body actually urgently needs during a gastrointestinal illness. The activated charcoal does not differentiate between "good" and "bad" substances, but absorbs all substances. It should also be noted that activated charcoal can also impair the effect of some medications, such as heart and diabetes medications or the contraceptive pill.
If you suspect that you are suffering from food poisoning, which can certainly happen abroad, then charcoal tablets are highly recommended due to their ability to bind toxins and bacteria in the intestines. The recommended dose for an adult is 1 g of activated charcoal per kg of body weight.
How to support digestion on vacation?
There are various methods that can be used to support your digestion while on vacation and prevent gastrointestinal disease. A healthy metabolism and strong intestinal flora are essential for our body's defense functions. Our intestines are full of a variety of "good" bacteria that play a major role in our digestion and defense against bacteria and pollutants. If you support and strengthen these bacteria, your intestinal flora will be better equipped to fight unknown bacteria or withstand greater stress while on vacation. To clarify how we can support our digestion while on vacation, we would like to briefly discuss the function of our intestinal flora.
function of our intestinal flora
The good bacteria in our intestines perform a variety of functions, such as digesting fiber and producing vitamins K and B12. They also produce biotin and folic acid. Our intestines are part of our learned immune system, the so-called adaptive immune system. From our first day on this earth, our intestines begin to capture harmful substances and pathogens using special cells in the intestinal wall, which are then passed on to our lymphatic tissue, the so-called immune tissue. Our body reacts to this by producing so-called T and B cells, which render the harmful substances or pathogens harmless.
The healthy bacteria in our intestines have the task of preparing our immune system for the various pathogens and teaching it which cells are harmful and which are not. To prevent possible gastrointestinal problems while on vacation, we have put together 5 tips for you on how you can strengthen and protect the microbiome in your intestines.
5 Things to Prevent Stomach Problems on Vacation
1: Take probiotics
Consuming high-quality and bioactive probiotics can strengthen the intestinal flora. You can do this before a vacation by consuming yogurt or probiotic supplements. Our Swiss Immune® 1, for example, supports the intestinal microbiome with the optimal combination of high-quality probiotic strains and Swiss colostrum. The probiotic Bifidobacterium Bifidum helps maintain a healthy intestinal flora and strengthens resistance. The intact state of the intestinal microbiome has a positive influence on digestion, metabolism, body weight, the immune system, appetite and general well-being. To strengthen your intestines before a vacation, you can take the capsules in the morning on an empty stomach and in the evening before going to bed.
2: Wash your hands before every meal, but not excessively
Washing your hands before eating is generally recommended - especially abroad, in hotels or in holiday resorts where many people come into contact and objects or door handles are touched by many people. However, we advise against washing your hands excessively abroad without a good reason to do so. Our skin is populated with bacteria and fungi that are designed to cope with common harmful bacteria and pathogens. If we wash our hands too often, not only is the healthy layer of bacteria and fungi damaged and destroyed, but the skin also becomes cracked and dry. Harmful bacteria and viruses can then enter the skin through these hairline cracks in the skin and make us ill.
3: Adapt to local time
If you have ever been on a long-haul flight, you may know that jet lag can quickly disrupt our "internal biological clock". We have a biorhythm that our body follows. If the time we are in changes, this biorhythm is thrown out of balance and we suffer from jet lag - we are tired, cannot concentrate, may be easily irritable and often have digestive problems. The consequences of jet lag can not only be sleep disorders and exhaustion, but also digestive problems that limit us on vacation. Our biological clock is controlled by brain functions and our hormone balance, which in turn allows us to get used to the new time zone. This adjustment can take 2-5 days. In order to prepare your body and intestines for the time difference, it is recommended that you prepare your body for the new time zone by sleeping. For example, if you know that you are flying out during the day and will also arrive during the day, you should wait until bedtime abroad before going to bed. If you are flying out at night and will also arrive at night, you should try to get shorter periods of sleep before the flight so that you can stay awake on the flight and then, when you arrive in the holiday destination at night, you are tired and can go to sleep there, instead of getting off the plane wide awake at midnight. Always drink enough and spend some time in the fresh air when you arrive in the holiday destination to counteract jet lag and calm your intestines.
4: Eating cold potatoes – resistant starch
Cold potatoes contain what is known as resistant starch, which we cannot digest. The fiber-rich, cold potatoes, with their resistant starch, provide our good intestinal bacteria with a wonderful nutrient so that they remain healthy and strong. If we eat cold potatoes before or during a vacation, we are strengthening our intestinal flora. Fiber-rich foods, such as unripe bananas and cold potatoes, are generally good for strengthening the intestines in the case of irritable bowel syndrome or diarrhea. However, we warn you: If you are from Germany and ask for cold potatoes abroad, you will be doing justice to the German stereotype with this tip. Prepare yourself for smiles, but your intestines will thank you!
5: Eat mindfully on vacation
Finally, we generally recommend that you pay close attention to your diet while on vacation. Too much sugar and industrial fats weaken our intestines, while vegetables and fiber-rich foods, as well as probiotic cultures, strengthen our intestines and contribute to general health. Only eat fresh and fully cooked meat and always wash fruit and vegetables with packaged or boiled water. Eat a balanced and varied diet.
BE THE CHANGE and travel preparation
Our immune system is a sophisticated protective shield in which our intestines are an important functional partner. We can support and strengthen it before we go on vacation. Swiss Immune® uses one of the most powerful, natural Swiss raw materials: colostrum.
The BE THE CHANGE products with immunoglobulin concentrate build and strengthen a balanced immune system effectively and in the most natural way. They care for the gastrointestinal tract - i.e. the intestinal microbiome and counteract digestive irritations. The immunoglobulin concentrate promotes the regeneration of the entire body and offers the organism the best support for general well-being. Swiss Immune® 1 supports the intestinal microbiome with the optimal combination of high-quality probiotic strains and Swiss colostrum. The probiotic Bifidobacterium Bifidum helps to maintain a healthy intestinal flora and strengthens resistance. The intact state of the intestinal microbiome has a positive influence on digestion, metabolism, body weight, the immune system, appetite and our well-being.
BE THE CHANGE has done pioneering work and offers you the first 100% cold-processed Swiss colostrum, with the highest immunoglobulin concentration and bioactivity. Swiss Immune® 1 is a cold-sterilized immunoglobulin concentrate without additives or fillers, made from ingredients of 100% natural origin, according to pharmaceutical standards. It is manufactured at temperatures below 40° Celsius in order to preserve the active ingredients.
We guarantee a minimum content of 60% immunoglobulins (IgG) in the colostrum portion of this product. Current batch (best before 10/2023) = >75% IgG.
Sources:
https://www.aerzteblatt.de/archiv/19718/Aktivkohle-Sofortmassnahme-bei-oralen-Vergiftungen
