Don’t let sunburn, diarrhoea or travel sickness ruin your holiday this year. Just follow our rescue plan and keep yourself in tip-top health on your summer escape.
Use enough sunscreen!
There are two new NBs when it comes to sun protection creams. First, make sure the one you buy has UVA protection as well as UVB. While UVB rays cause the sunburn we loathe, the UVA rays are the ones that make your skin age prematurely – and they penetrate glass and cloud easily!
So check – if it says ‘broad spectrum’ or UVA and UVB protection, that’s a good start. The amount of UVA protection can also be listed from 1-5 stars. How much sunscreen you apply, and whether you sweat it off, can also influence its effectiveness.
Estée Lauder says that people tend to apply only a third to half of the sunscreen they need for the protection they actually want. For your face you need to use about 1 teaspoon of proven sunscreen and about a shot glass size for your body. Try Riemann P20 Once a Day Sunfilter, with UVA and UVB, R119.
Bites: stick to what works
Contrary to urban legend, eating Marmite and drinking gin and tonics won’t protect you from mosquito bites, says travel health expert and GP Jane Wilson-Howarth.
If you’re travelling to a malaria area, you need to use an insect repellent containing at least 50% DEET, so check the label, remember, though, DEET isn’t suitable for babies. Looking for one that’s safe for children7 Try Mozzie-less Lotion, R17,82, from selected pharmacies and health shops. It’s fragrance- and alcohol-free, long-lasting and has moisturising essential oils.
Balance out the booze
Before you know it, one drink becomes two becomes three… every night of the hols! Your body’s probably not used to it There’s nothing worse than hitting the beach feeling nauseous from being slightly hung-over – and being a little dehydrated before you’ve even got any sun.
So buy yourself a funky beach cooler bag, and pack it with ice, sparkling water and low-kilo fruit juices that’ll help restore some balance to your health and perk you up. Try the new Liqui-Fruit Vitality flavours that contain antioxidants from grape seed, blackcurrant and blueberry.
Delhi belly: sort it out before you go!
So many of us suffer from tummy problems on holiday, especially if you go somewhere slightly exotic such as Mauritius – and we all know what misery that brings!
It makes sense to prepare your digestive system before you travel. Quest Pro-biotics, R248 for 120 capsules (from healthworks.co.za), contain four billion live bacteria per capsule and are kept cold from manufacture to distribution. They should be kept in your fridge and taken for a week before you leave – and while you’re away, too. On holiday, handwashing is the best way to prevent the spread of germs, but it’s not always easy when you’re travelling. Clicks Waterless Hand Cleanser, R 12,99, is a handy sanitiser made from ingredients that kill germs.
Jet-lagged? Soak up natural daylight
Studies prove that your arcadian rhythm – your natural body clock – can be altered by exposure to bright light. So, no matter how tired you might be feeling, it might be better to take a walk rather than hit the sack. Early morning and late afternoon exercise helps re-synchronise your body clock, advises the UK’s Mayo Clinic.
DVT: take control
On long journeys, it’s important to stay hydrated and active to reduce deep vein thrombosis (DVT) risk – particularly if you’re a smoker, have had a recent minor leg injury or are very tall, explains podiatrist and leg health expert, Kimby Osborne.
Often DVT only occurs days or weeks after you’ve travelled and there may be no symptoms as the clot breaks up on its own. But if you experience pain, redness and swelling (which worsens on walking or standing), breathlessness or chest pain, see your GP immediately. Medically approved compression flight socks can help reduce the risk of DVT. Try wearing Flight Socks, R267.95, from Travel Experience shops on a long-haul flight.
This shortened article was taken out of the December 2009 edition of Essentials magazine. Text by Mandy McDonald & Michele O’Connor.
Related Content
