Tips and Hacks for Holiday Health

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No one can resist the sun-drenched allure of Southern Italy. Basking in the sun and indulging in the tastes and delights of a new culture, somewhere far from home, offers a unique opportunity for maximum de-stress and release; to rebalance and recharge. Though taking a break from our usual routine can throw into the mix anxieties for how we may stay on track. I know for myself in particular I often worry about how I can keep up optimum health whilst having maximum fun on trips away. Having just returned from a trip to the South of Italy, I am sharing my top tips and hacks for staying on track on holiday.

How to stay healthy during holiday season?

Start off the day strong.

In the morning, I drink a glass of warm water with lemon or mint to kickstart my digestion. It is important and often difficult to keep gut health in its prime state away from home, but I often find this centres me despite the lack of sleep and disturbed routine that I find is inseparable from travel and altered time zones.

I don’t even question whether to bring my guasha from @thehayoumethod, which has become an essential wherever I go to de-puff, nourish, de-wrinkle and massage my face.

If I have time in the morning I will also do a short Qigong session barefoot à la @katie_brindle (who is just a genius by the way), to ground, stretch and energise my body.

Never forget SPF.

Regardless of whether you are in the sun-drenched 30 degree heat or at home in the garden in September, SPF is of paramount importance to prevent premature skin-ageing. On holiday with increased UV exposure it is even more essential. I always apply a clean sunblock (check toxicity on Yuka app). Though I make sure to leave some parts of my body, that are harder wearing or less exposed, to absorb vitamin D so I can still make the most of its wonderful and energising health benefits.

Take a moment.

I always make time to walk barefoot and swim in the sea, which is not only grounding, but fills me with health-boosting trace elements and Prana - a source of all life. I try to stay away from swimming pools full of chlorine and other nasties, indulging in natural water sources.

Be generous with antioxidants.

I pack my meals with antioxidants (anything brightly coloured is an antioxidant!) to offset some of the damage caused by air travel, wine and other deviations from my usually healthy diet.

I make sure to eat veg and protein before carbs to slow down sugar absorption into the bloodstream and get a stable energy supply throughout the day. Incidentally, drinking coffee before carbohydrate-rich meals also spikes blood sugar, so I try to leave it until the end of my meal, which luckily for me on this trip, was quintessentially Italian! SÌ!

Boost nutrition with foraged foods and culinary herbs.

I try to eat fruit and berries off the trees when I can, they are full of Prana and have the highest nutrient content so I can continue to provide my body with a wide range of vitamins.

At the end of an evening meal, especially if it was late and heavy, I have a strong infusion of an aromatic herb (my fave lately is basil, but mint, ginger or chamomile also all work wonders) to speed up your metabolism.

Stay Hydrated.

Not rocket science I know, but staying hydrated really is essential. To ensure sufficient hydration, I eat hydrating foods throughout the day (barattiere, cucumbers, watermelons, gazpacho) and add electrolytes to my water (lemon, strawberry) to improve absorption of water into the bloodstream. When it is hot and you are out and about, staying hydrated is essential to keep all of your body processes ticking over as they normally would back home!

Get support from supplements.

I (try to!) ignore a welcome drink and focus on the supplements, making sure that where I am less in control of what I eat and indulging in delicious foods, I still know I am getting everything I need to stay healthy. But it’s also ok to take a break from supplements and make the most of local seasonal fruit and veg as they are also full of antioxidants and many vital vitamins!

Always be prepared.

I always travel with The Gamechanger (a herbal SOS mix for anti-viral, anti-microbial phelp which works against broad spectrum infections – colds, flu, stomach bugs, ear infections, cuts and skin infections) and my Homeopathic First Aid Kit (Aconite for fevers and shocks, Arsenicum for food poisoning, Apis for stings and bites, Cantharis for burns, Mag Phos for muscle cramps and Arg Nit for anxiety) to make sure that no matter where I am or whatever hits my immune system, I have the tools to combat it straight away. 

Lean on nature and kitchen medicine, when needed.

When needed I make the most of kitchen/supermarket medicine (Garlic for flu and chest infections, Ginger and Sage for sore throat, Thyme for coughs, Turmeric for inflammation, Mint and Chamomile for digestion) and wild herbs (Yarrow for bleeding, Plantain for bites, Comfrey for injuries, Mullein for chest infections, Elderflowers and Nettle for allergies, Lemon Balm for cold sores and low moods and Lavender for sleep). The list is long and changes with location and season, but just know, that plant medicine is everywhere around you, waiting to support and bring balance (plant emoji)

I know it can be difficult to stay on track and feel like you are still in optimum health on holiday, but just know that all the fun and glorious sunshine you encounter away from home doesn’t have to come with a health compromise and you can still feel like the best version of you!

Jenya Di Pierro

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Author: Jenya Di Pierro

Founder, Naturopath & Herbal Medicine Practitioner

BSc, MSc, DipCNM, AMH, ANP