Who wants their vacation ruined by sunburns, blood clots, dehydration or motion sickness?

Nobody!

Use these natural methods to leave vacation-prone illnesses far behind.

Guard against sunburn by eating fruit. 

Enjoy the sunshine, but be smart about it. Dermatologists strongly recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or greater for adults and SPF 50 or greater for infants and children. But don’t stop there; fortifying your immune system with antioxidants can help block ultraviolet rays. Researchers have shown that in human skin cells, ellagic acid, found in raspberries, strawberries, cranberries and pomegranates, worked to protect against UV damage by blocking production of MMP (matrix metalloproteinase enzymes), which breaks down collagen in healthy cell tissue.

BONUS TIP:  Add tomatoes to your meals. Gain the protective benefits of the antioxidant lycopene by consuming tomato-based foods and drinks.

Refuse to be still.

Long stretches of travel are associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), researchers have found. That’s a clot in your veins! The risk of VTE increases 18% with each additional two-hour increase in travel time. No matter your mode of transportation — plane, train or car — sitting for longer than eight hours can cause blood to pool in your legs possibly leading to blood clots. Stretch in your seat every three to four minutes per hour, don’t cross your legs and stand up when you can.

BONUS TIP: Experts recommend drinking water (or other non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages) to avoid increased blood viscosity during air travel.

Drink to your heart’s content. 

Dehydration is at the top of the list of vacation spoilers. While traveling, dehydration can creep up slowly leaving you feeling drained, tried and unable to sleep well. You end up blaming your travel time or the hotel bed, but really it’s your body crying out for hydration. The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Science in the U.S. has determined that when it comes to meeting daily hydration needs, all beverages including those with caffeine, are hydrating. Although many are concerned that caffeine has a diuretic effect, newer scientific evidence indicates that the effect is transient with no convincing data that caffeine leads to dehydration.  Foods with high water content like soup, fruits and vegetables can also help in keeping the body hydrated.

BONUS TIP: If you’re heading for a high-altitude destination, staying hydrated becomes even more important. Drinking extra water as you travel to your high-altitude destination will help ward off altitude sickness. Start drinking 2 to 3 days before you plan on arriving at you high-altitude destination. 

Fight motion sickness the natural way.

Ginger-root capsules and anti-nausea ginger gum are available in health food stores. Acupressure wristbands (sea-band.com) can help too. Healthcare providers advise to take medication ahead of time. Motion sickness can ruin a cruise, a car ride, or a plane trip and although it can be difficult to predict who will be affected by motion, if you know you’re prone to motion sickness, take a preventative approach.

BONUS TIP: Over-the-counter drugs such as Dramamine or scopolamine (a prescription drug available in patch or pill), works also but can leave your mouth, throat, and nose very dry.