Medical Questions » Travel Questions » Question No. 1403
| Question: | I often get constipated when I fly. How can I prevent this? |
| Answer: | Flying is not only severely dehydrating, it also disturbs the normal balance of gut bacteria. That is why it is essential to drink a lot of water when you are flying, even if that means you pee a lot. I recommend a glass of water every hour, and complete avoidance of alcohol, which will simply amplify the dehydration you' re already exposed to. I always take a few pieces of fruit along when I travel, too. Fruit provides a lot of water, plus many other nutrients, thus making it a healthy alternative to the usually sub-standard airline food.
It also helps to up your intake of vitamin C to 3g a day for the day of travel and a day after. When you land, take half a teaspoon of probiotics (acidophilus and bifidus bacteria), and make sure you eat a lot of water-rich foods. This means more fruit, and vegetables (taking into account local hygiene - you may need to stick to peelable types), and drinking enough water. Also, get some exercise. Sitting for a day is in itself constipating. |
|
|
