Summer, holidays, travel and the discovery of new cultures and customs should not be cause for intestinal problems. Diarrhoea, traveller's tummy, constipation, cramps or bloating are common when you travel and can spoil the fun and relaxation of a trip or stay abroad.
How can you avoid these intestinal problems when travelling?
It's all about germs
To understand how to avoid these problems when travelling, it is essential to know how and why they occur. Traveller's diarrhoea is by far the most common issue, affecting 10 to 40% of travellers1.. It occurs as a result of contamination by certain microbes (bacteria, viruses, parasites) present in the food or water ingested or transmitted through contact with people who fail to respect good hygiene rules. Many microbes2, 3 can cause traveller's diarrhoea: 80% bacteria (E.coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, etc.), 15% viruses (Rotavirus, Norovirus, etc.) and 5-10% parasites (Giardia, Cyclospora, etc.). The aggressiveness of individual micro-organisms often determines the severity of symptoms and the duration of the episode of diarrhoea. While traveller’s diarrhoea generally lasts only a few days and only disrupts half of travellers' activities, in 10% of cases it persists and leads to complications that require further diagnosis and treatment3.
Other intestinal problems can also occur while travelling, such as constipation, bloating, abdominal cramps, etc. Although these issues are not dangerous, they can nevertheless cause serious discomfort and deserve consideration.
Preventing contamination
To avoid contamination when travelling you must systematically adopt the right gestures.
ALWAYS
- Drink bottled or purified water (not tap water).
- Brush your teeth with bottled or purified water.
- Peel fresh fruit before eating it
- Eat hot and cooked food (avoid raw vegetables, ice cream, cold buffets, etc.).
- Wash your hands before eating or drinking and after using the toilet.
- Ask for drinks without ice
- Avoid contact with infected relatives
Pampering your intestinal flora to maintain its natural balance and preserve the body's defences.
Preserving the natural balance
Each person has a unique combination of bacteria naturally present in their intestine (called intestinal flora or microbiota). It not only plays an important role in digestion but also helps to strengthen the immune system. It is important to look after it every day and especially when travelling. Changes in diet, jet lag and weather conditions can weaken the body and disturb the natural balance of the intestinal flora. It may be helpful to boost your flora by adding good bacteria to the intestine, such as Lactobacilli and Bifidobacilli, and a yeast such as Saccharomyces boulardii. The Trenker and Orthonat range include food supplements containing these good bacteria and yeast. Their unique and complete combination and high concentrations help the intestinal flora to maintain a balance and to remain active and resistant in upset conditions.
Taking a food supplement containing these good bacteria and yeast each day of a trip may be a good addition to your to do list to protect you from intestinal problems!
Have a great holiday!