I’m Bali and Singapore-bound for my most epic trip of the year! Clear across to the other side of the world for me, Bali has been a tropical dream spot for such a long time and I’m so excited to finally make it happen!
I’ve been prepping for Southeast Asia travel for weeks and have got packingpackingpacking on the mind. Amidst all the chaos, it occurred to me that I’ve learned a thing or two about traveling well and keeping myself healthy and energised on the road. For example, things that I have been consistently grateful for bringing along on trips: raw snack bars, digestive enzymes, and coconut oil. Things that I have routinely regretted bringing: way too many outfits, multiple pairs of shoes and other ‘just-in-case’ clothing items.
I am definitely not your average backpacker – these days my travel bag contains way more health-related products than clothing and electronics combined!
I also think that the more you travel, the more you realise just how few material items you actually need to get by and feel happy (but that’s for another longer post down the line!) 🙂
While I wrap up packing for this journey, I thought I’d give you a peek into my backpack and share my wellness picks for healthy traveling. I know that when I first started backpacking, I would have loved to see a health-focused guide like this, so I hope it’s helpful to you!
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Inside My Travel Backpack… My Wellness Picks ♥
Ginger capsules
When I was younger I used to get major motion sickness whenever I was in a long car ride, plane ride, boat, etc. It was awful.. nauseous and puking the whole way. I used to think I’d never be able to travel the world because I wouldn’t be able to make it through the plane ride! Thankfully I grew out of a lot of this and the rest is taken care of with ginger capsules. Flying 20-something hours to Thailand last year was the ultimate test and I’m so happy to say that all was fine! I never get on a flight without some ginger in tow 🙂
Colloidal silver
Oh, how I love my silver! I grew up taking this whenever I was sick and its uses are many and varied. It’s a natural antibiotic (without all the side effects and risks that other antibiotics pose). I’ve used it to shorten and heal from viruses, rashes, ear infections, etc. If I ever get sick, this is usually my go-to “medicine” and it works wonders. Keep in mind… colloidal silver, though natural, is still an antibiotic, so you only want to take this when needed. And be sure to take probiotics while using silver as well.
Digestive enzymes
I never go traveling without these! After going through nutrition school and learning how important digestion is (really the KEY to our overall health!), this is something I definitely prioritise at all times. It’s especially important that we’re digesting our food well when traveling since let’s face it…. we end up eating all sorts of things we don’t normally include in our diet! These foods may not always agree with us or be the best foods for our body’s needs. I know that I end up eating tons of packaged snack foods on my travels just out of necessity. Enzymes are really one of the best supplements you can take!
Probiotics
Similar to digestive enzymes, probiotics replenish our bodies with good bacteria, helping us digest our food better and amping up our immune system. Biokult is my fave brand to take – it’s strong, doesn’t need refrigeration, and has an impressive variety of different bacteria strains.
Charcoal
Another supplement that I never go traveling without and the best remedy for food poisoning if you happen to get this on the road. Charcoal will bind to the toxins and gently remove them from the body so you can heal and recover much quicker. When I got food poisoning last summer, charcoal pills (combined with apple cider vinegar) literally saved me.
Salty snacks
The airlines have got it right, salty carby snacks are the way to go on long flights. And I do think they help me with motion sickness, especially pretzels. These aren’t foods that I typically routinely snack on but for traveling, I feel good about eating them. I try to choose snacks with healthy oils, simple ingredients, etc. Avocado or coconut oil chips, gluten-free pretzels, and salty chocolate bars are my go-to faves.
Hand sanitizer
A must for backpacking when you’re out & about and can’t wash your hands often. I get the alcohol-free versions from health food stores. There are some great all-natural hand sanitizers out there that include essential oils, like the lavender one I have shown in the pic above.
Healthy sunscreen
I’m not a big fan of using sunscreen. I know this is a controversial topic and I didn’t always feel this way. It’s only been since I went through nutrition school and started researching sunscreen ingredients that I discovered most sunscreens out there are quite toxic. There’s been so much research out there on sunscreens actually increasing our risk of skin cancer! Not to mention ALL sunscreens block our ability to absorb Vitamin D from the sun. Yikes! For those reasons, I normally use rash guards (UV protectant clothing) on certain parts of my body that get the most sun exposure when I’m outdoors instead of slathering up with sunscreen.
That being said, I know there’s days when we are out in the sun for long periods and sunscreen is necessary. For those times, I go as natural and organic as possible. I avoid all chemical (oxybenzone) sunscreens and also titanium dioxide ones, opting for pure zinc oxide formulas that pose the least health risks. Luckily, there are so many zinc sunscreen options out there these days in health food stores. I’ve been using Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm for a while now and am a big fan. I also just got a different brand for traveling that’s waterproof.. haven’t tried it yet but looks good!
Meditation play list
This keeps me calm on flights, centered during chaos and long waits in transit, and mentally cleansed during a time when my surroundings are constantly changing. A MUST for travel and beyond.
Raw food snack bars
I always make sure to have several of these with me in my bag in case I’m waiting around in transit somewhere and get hungry. I tend to stick to the simple bars out there made with just dried fruit and nuts. Snacks like dried bananas and figs are also great for munching on.
Nourishing prep food
Finally, when preparing for any sort of travel, I always make sure to eat especially well in the days leading up to leaving. This varies depending on the season, what I’m craving, etc, but I usually try to up my veggie and greens intake as good quality greens are typically harder to come by in many places. And I love having a green smoothie or kombucha before catching a flight.
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What’s in YOUR travel bag? I’d love to know some of your top picks. Please share in the comments below! x
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