8 Key Wellness Travel Tips + The Truth About Charcoal

We're tackling the topic of wellness while traveling to accompany our weekend guide a to Napa, California. Second to a week of eating our way through Italy, Napa is the perfect example of travel plans that aren't easy to sync with our daily wellness goals.

We're all about easing things up while on vacation, but what's the point of a great itinerary if you feel sideways from breakfast in bed through that al fresco dinner? Here are our top tips to help you feel clear and strong so you can enjoy those holiday plans in style...

Pack Charcoal Tablets

Charcoal has been trending hard in wellness circles lately. So much so that there's been a backlash. Let's break it down. Activated charcoal, like clay, is highly absorptive. That's what makes the stuff so incredible for binding to toxins in the gut and helping us deal with food poisoning, overeating, or any evening involving alcohol. Used correctly, activated charcoal can help the body to detoxify and we highly recommend it during or after a big night out. However, activated charcoal should be used sparingly - too much charcoal can absorb all the good nutrients you're consuming everyday too. Most importantly, the dose and dilution of charcoal is key to avoid serious digestive issues.

We recommend carrying it while traveling, but using sparingly. Have a big dinner out planned with multiple bottles of wine? Pop a couple of charcoal supplements - or, if you want to be extra cautious, do what we do and crack a charcoal tab open , mix thoroughly with a full glass of water and drink slowly.

Ginger + Turmeric Shots
Pick up a stash of ginger shots (we love Pressed Juicery's) to haul along from a juice bar or grocery store and keep in your minibar or road trip cooler. Turmeric shots are also useful and becoming more readily available. Ginger and turmeric are both incredible anti-inflammatory and fight to keep our immunity, skin and digestion strong and healthy.

Depending on where you stay, you may be able to get your hands on fresh ginger shots from your hotel cafe or bar. Both ginger and turmeric will help to quell any inflammation caused by your 'vacation diet', extra glasses of rose at the pool, and the dramas of travel. Shoot one early in the day to help keep your body in balance.

Fit In a Little Exercise
We know, we know: you're on vacation! But the truth is that whether it's a bit of breathwork and yoga in your hotel room to start the day or touring the area on a little hike, getting your circulation going and enjoying some light cardio will keep you feeling great between drinks at the pool or ice cream cones out in town.

Take Cold Showers
An easy, free travel health hack we picked up from former Guest Editor, Bulletproof's Dave Aprey is to simply expose your body to an ice-cold shower for about 30 seconds every day. Cold therapy can curb pain and inflammation, decrease muscle soreness, increase recovery time and fat burning and even boost mood and improve sleep. All things we're looking to hack while traveling.  Learn More

Wake Up and HydrateThis one might seem obvious, but being intentional about hydration can make a huge difference! Here's advice we've shared from nutritionist Kelly Leveque: "Wake up and drink two large glasses of water to help flush out your system and lower blood-glucose levels. It’s especially important if you have been drinking alcohol and might be dehydrated. When you’re dehydrated the volume of blood decreases and the blood glucose remains the same, meaning you have more concentrated blood sugar. Drinking water (ten glasses a day for special occassions) can increase blood volume and decrease glucose concentration.

Take Glutathione For Your Liver
These last two tips come from Dr Frank Lipman and the team at Be Well. "One too many drinks last night? It happens! A good strategy to help avoid a hangover is to stay away from sugary drinks and stick to clear alcohols like vodka and tequila (with seltzer and citrus). But if you did have that one last drink, glutathione, the master antioxidant, can help you bounce back and give your liver a boost. It helps to reduce free radicals and strengthen immunity too. Stress, gaps in our diet and chronic illness, as well as long-term toxic exposure, can not only deplete stores of glutathione but also inhibit its production.

How to Supplement: Take daily. If you know you will be imbibing, we highly recommend 4 capsules of glutathione per day to help aid your liver with detoxification. Check Out

Supplement for Great SleepAccording to Dr. Frank: "Between travel, added stress and late-night parties, vacations can disrupt our natural sleep cycle and leave us feeling less than rested. If you need a little extra help, I recommend these supplements just before bed:

GABA promotes relaxation by quelling overstimulated nerve cells. Check Out

Melatonin helps to synchronize our circadian rhythm so we are alert during the day and at rest during the night. Check Out

5-HTP helps to create the “feel good” hormone, serotonin, which is great for inducing sleep. Check Out

The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. 
All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programs. 

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