This week's article focuses on how to avoid traveler's diarrhea, the most common travel related illness. What do you do to avoid getting sick while traveling? Is there a vitamin or supplement that you take? Do you have a habit of washing your hands throughout the day?

Hi Kimberley
I don't take any vitamin supplements but I do take a little bottle of that antibacterial handwash you can get - the sort that you just rub on your hands without any need for water. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Also I always buy bottled water and check the seal is intact before I drink it!

Not very exciting tips but they seem to work

Hellie

Walking and English Garden

Hellie,

Sometimes the simplest tasks are the ones with the biggest results! Bottled water is great because it reduces the chance for contamination and it keeps you well hydrated which helps your body take care of fighting disease naturally. Good for you!

That antibacterial handwash is GREAT.... I try to not over-use it at home, because my holistic doctor says that it can hurt your body's ability to build immunity to diseases, but I still sometimes use it when I touch a dirty public bathroom door, or things like that.

I drink bottled water, and I also rinse all my fruit with it.

I travel a lot inside the U.S., and since I live in the south and head north a lot during the winter, I often find that I am susceptible to the things that are "going around" in all of the northern cities that I visit. I stave it off the best I can with Emergen-C foaming drink mix and I try to get plenty of sleep.... doesn't always work, but I try.

Megan,

Emergen-C is great stuff! I highly recommend every traveler bring this little packet of vitamin C to stave off illness.

It's true, the anitbacterial handwash can do more harm than good over time. I'm personally severely allergic to the stuff and I never use it (and I still don't get colds!), but I would imagine using it on vacations and not every day would be more beneficial than not.

Great ideas!

Avoid eating fresh salads when traveling outside of US. The water used to rinse the vegetables and fruit is suspect. Also, avoid roadside drinks for sale. The liquids used in the beverage are suspect. Hot drinks are okay.

Taisha <img src="/images/graemlins/fish.gif" alt="" />
Southeast Asia

I took immodium when I was travelling - but that's not preventative, it just stops 'the runs' <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> But it works quite quickly and can be very useful <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

best wishes - Jane

I'd say this rule applies to some places, but not all. Salads are totally okay to eat in Europe and are generally served with everything. And in Europe, the tap water is just fine to drink, even though Europeans generally prefer bottled water (particularly sparkling), and that's all they will serve you in restaurants, unless you specifically ask for tap water.

The exception to this (the only one I'm aware of) is in Turkey, where they will even tell you not to drink the tap water. There may be other places in Eastern Europe too, where it's not advisable to drink the tap water. Be sure to ask if you're not sure.

My rule for avoiding illness when traveling is to slowly integrate the local foods into your diet. I'm not saying to eat at McDonald's for every meal, but try to eat some items that are familiar to your digestive system...and try to eat very simply, and very slowly and gradually add the local foods into your diet so you give your stomach time to acclimate to them.

I say this as someone who has had intestinal problems since birth, and lives in a land where greasy, heavy food rules all. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Also a big fan of vitamin C...

try to be always ready with medicines for common illness..like immodium for diarrhea, paracetamol, ibuprofen, something for motion sickness, and bottled water. i always drink bottled water just to be sure...and acsorbic acid or vit.c

Here is a tip:
When in Thailand, think twice before getting food from the street vendors. My friend got some meat dish and spent the last half of her vacation in a Tokyo hospital bed. Poor gal :[