Traveller’s tummy

8 years ago

Food. It is one of the best things about travel. While we’re incredibly fortunate to have so many food styles and ingredients readily available in New Zealand, part of the thrill of travelling is actually trying food in its natural habitat, the way the locals make it. The smells and tastes will form some of the strongest memories you can bring home with you.

Let’s keep it that way! The last thing any traveller needs is a dose of traveller’s tummy. Take reasonable precautions to prevent any digestive mishaps.

Traveller’s tummy is not only always due to food poisoning.

Local producers may use different fertilisers than our bodies are used to, or the food just may be far spicier or different to what your system is used to digesting. Practice moderation. If you come across a brand new dish that you absolutely love – fantastic! Just don’t overdo it – enjoy a serving and see how it sits with your system before going back for seconds or thirds.

Travel itself can disrupt your digestive system, resulting in far too much, or too little, time on the loo, both of which can have dire consequences! Make sure you eat small amounts regularly, drink plenty of water (see below) and keep up a reasonable amount of exercise, so that your system feels as normal as possible.

Treats on holiday are inevitable, but remember that if you are used to having a light breakfast, then you go crazy at the buffet table every morning, your body may protest – the same goes for fat, sugar, alcohol and caffeine intake!

Drinking water is vital, but do check the water quality. If in doubt, ask, and better still, drink bottled water. Remember that this goes for brushing your teeth and adding ice to your drinks – that is all water which will be entering your system. Salad and fresh fruit can prove problematic if they are washed in less-than-ideal water, but this is less likely to occur.

Food stalls are charming and inviting. Choose to eat at the busiest stalls – if they are busy, the food won’t have been sitting for as long, allowing less time for bacteria to multiply. Choose to eat hot dishes from stalls, and make sure they are piping hot. Don’t be afraid to judge a book by its cover – if the stall and vendor appears clean and healthy, that is a good sign.

If in doubt, leave it out. If you are travelling and not certain about the quality of food preparation, it may pay to avoid animal protein (or dairy if it is not chilled). Badly cooked/stored poultry, for example, can make you incredibly ill.

Find a happy medium between being wise and cautious. People travel and eat all the time and most people do so with a minimum of fuss. Trust your gut!