There are lots of claims around ‘super-foods’… some relatively practical, while others seem quite far fetched, making it hard to know what will benefit you while you travel. Whether you’re a super-food fanatic or a non-believer in their abilities, I want to share my essential list of superfoods that are supported by those all-knowing nutritionalists and scientists.
All of these superfoods are easy to come by and can be picked up in most local supermarkets, pharmacies or delicious food markets, like these in London! 🙂
Why Super-Foods And Travel?
Travel is great (but then you’ll already know that 🙂 )! Literally the ability to explore, taste and gaze at new and exciting experiences, places and cultures is something that you will no doubt love and embody. Whether that’s travelling the lengths and breadths of the world, or a short journey to something close by, the ability to explore and enjoy new places can be a life changing experience that you will treasure forever.
One thing that isn’t often mentioned is how travel can affect your health. Whether it’s due to changes in timezones, sleeping pattern, sun exposure, fatigue or even allergies, travel can create some ill-advised aliments that can stop you having a great time!
How Super-Foods Can Aid Your Travels…
Whenever I travel, I always try to include some key super-foods that can help me travel better… and don’t be fooled by glossy marketing, ‘premium’. ‘rare’ seeds, or berries that only grow on one side of a particular Himalayan mountain 😉 – we are surrounded by highly nutritious, everyday foods that can be found at a moments notice (and certainly don’t ‘break the bank’). Take a look below at my top super-foods that I try my very best to include on any travel…
1.) Green Tea As Mouthwash
Yup, you read that correctly, Green Tea has been proven to be as effective as ‘regular’ mouth wash in preventing tooth decay. Next time you’ve eaten your weight in sugary snacks and delicious local produce – don’t forget to swill a great big gulp of green tea and worry less about carrying your bottle of mouthwash!
2.) Mushrooms As Antihistamines
If you suffer from hay fever or particular types of allergies, mushrooms may help, especially when you travel. By increasing your intake of mushrooms over spring, your immune response can better manage certain types of hay fever that will cause those dreaded snivels and sneezes. If, like me, you really don’t like mushrooms, pick up a cheap supplement from your local pharmacy.
3.) Dark Chocolate To De-Stress
Had a hectic day exploring, or things didn’t go as planned, have a big ol’ munch on some dark chocolate to help combat stress and relax. The higher the cocoa content the better (always head for above seventy percent). Studies have shown that dark chocolate has the ability to lower blood pressure and also de-stress your mind. Bonus!
4.) Beetroot To Aid Exercise Performance And Stamina
If your a keen hiker or planning an exciting adventure – don’t forget to increase your beetroot consumption. Beetroot has been proven to aid better exercise performance and stamina due to the additional nitrates you consume. Whether you eat a who bulb, or drink the juice, its a relatively cheap vegetable that will help any aspiring hiker, skier, or inner-athlete you may be!
5.) Aloe Vera As A Skin Supplement
Did you push yourself too heavily in the glaring sun? If you’re on a beach, in the mountains or in a city – look out for some wild Aloe vera that can be rubbed onto your skin. You can even buy inexpensive extract creams in many health stores and pharmacies, which are packed full of vitamins and minerals. Aloe vera is a perfect way to sooth your skin, keeping it supple and helping eliminate inflammation – which can be caused by sun damage.
6.) Turmeric As An Anti Inflammatory
One of the key substances in turmeric is curcumin, a powerful anti inflammatory that will aid a number of health ailments like toothache, naturally. A perfect, short-term solution if you can’t find a local dentist when travelling.
7.) Pomegranates To Strengthen Bones
Have a long hike, marathon, or maybe you regularly walk around cities – don’t forget to include pomegranate into your diet. Over a longer term period, pomegranate has been shown to increase bone density, making them stronger and less likely to break.
8.) Broccoli As An Aid To Lower Cholesterol
Eaten lots of high-fat foods while you were away travelling? Don’t forget to increase your consumption of broccoli on your return. Broccoli has been proven to lower cholesterol in your blood, making it a heart friendly superfood that can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
9.) Cherries As A Natural Remedy To Sleep
Struggling with jet-lag? Try and eat a cup full of cherries an an evening snack. Naturally, cherries contain a substance called melatonin which aids a natural sleep. It’s also a great healthy way to encourage some zzzzzzz’s on a long-haul flight.
10.) Lentils To Aid Digestive Discomfort
Changes in sleeping pattern, diet and even water consumption can all have short term, uncomfortable, impacts on you while travelling. Don’t forget to eat lots of lentils, oats or even popcorn to aid digestive movement and keep EVERYTHING moving as nature intended! 🙂
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