OVERSEAS AND GUT HEALTH

Foods, Water & Staying Well Overseas

Food and water quality varies enormously around the world. Where you live is often what your immune system adjusts too, therefor you may see people in their own environment not reacting to the food or water and when we are exposed to it we get sick. This does not make sense however in understanding this we can avoid getting sick on our holidays. With a little awareness and preparation, you can enjoy local cuisine safely, protect your digestion, and avoid unnecessary illness.

Simple Water Quality & Safety

Water standards differ from country to country. To reduce the risk of infections, I recommend:

• Drinking bottled water. Please do not reuse the bottle unless glass or stainless steel.
• Avoiding ice in drinks served at restaurants and bars
• Cleaning  your teeth with bottled water
• Not swallowing shower water
• Avoiding bathing in questionable water sources

Before swimming, consider whether the water may be contaminated by boat waste, sewerage, or upstream campers. Pristine water is usually safe; polluted waterways are not.  

Gut infections.

Symptoms can include :

• Diarrhoea
• Vommitting
• Stomach pain
• Gurgling Stomach
• Wind and Bloating 
• Fever 

There are various infections that can upset the gut. It can be a bacterial infection,  or parasites, or fungal infections. Digestive infections  can be picked up in certain regions/ countries/waters more than others. .You may have heard of examples like Salmonella, Blastocystic, Klebsiella, Giardia, Citrobacter, Pseudomonas.  All of these can cause a varying degree of the above  listed infections and whilst your away it is best to get on top of the infection and then we can check things when you get home. If still symptomatic it is worth getting a proper microbiome mapping in the form of an intensive stool test to check what you are left with gut wise. 

Digestive infections are common in many travel destinations. Speak with your practitioner about remedies to take and doses with you so you’re prepared if symptoms arise.

Digestive Supports

These are tools many travellers find helpful:

• Saccromyces - yeast based so not for everyone

• Larch — useful for diarrhoea; do not use in constipation or once bowels have normalised, as it can constipate

• Probiotics

• Prebiotics

• Cloves- chew and crush and swallow. These are good for infections but also good on parasites

• Slippery elm/ Marshmallow  - Mucilaginous to the gut

• Colostrum based remedies - antibacterial  

• Grapefruit extract

• Pomegranite

• Herbs  like artemisia annua, walnut, or wormwood, oregano oil