A Travel Writers Anti Virus

3.5K followers

Updated 8 years ago

Hey Friends :)

It's that time of year, where many of us, seeking to escape the cold and snow will be travelling abroad. Given the general Global Economy, many safe, warm, inexpensive countries will be our chosen destinations.

As an experienced long term Aid Worker and travel writer, I decided to offer this up to my Friends and Associates here at @WA, and made sure the content falls well within WA guidelines. :) . Also, I know of quite a few Friends here, who dream of setting sail, making a living while travelling, whether with their website and or travel writing.

A Traveller's Anti Virus

I'm very careful of what I eat while travelling abroad for an extended length of time, as my immune system has not encountered much of the foreign bacteria, which I will without a doubt be exposed to. Believe me, certain precautions really need to be taken, regardless if you're going to be travelling for a few weeks or half a year.

The chances of being infected while travelling abroad are high, and whether it be just a two week explosive love affair with the toilet, or a more deadly variety of salmonella , often found in third world countries,the odds are stacked against you. However, that said, there's no need to sound alarm, as long as proper precautions are taken.

What basic precaution, and best line of defense can you take before and while travelling abroad?

1)Preparing Lacto Fermented Foods at least a few weeks before leaving

From Kimchi, Sauerkraut to pickled limes or lemons, these are the easily prepared lacto fermented foods. You can find an extended array of recipes on the web. Freaking out about salt content? Don't, it's converted during the lacto fermentation process. It's best to begin consuming fermented foods before leaving, as to begin producing healthy bacteria in your digestive tract, prior to traveling. Avoid using any type of vinegar in your pickles.

You can easily pack a batch to take on your trip, I do it all the time.

A big plus in consuming LF Foods, is that it helps sustain optimum health.

2) Planning an extended stay abroad?

If you're planning an extended stay, read up on the local vegetables available where you'll be staying. Simple Lacto Fermented recipes can easily be found on the web, ranging from one week fermentations to a more prolonged 3 month process. And that small batch you brought with you, use a tablespoon as a starter in your fresh mix, you'll extend the success rate 100 fold.

Just a heads up

Pre Biotics, Pro Biotics, don't get caught in the confusion, and succumb to the temptation of simply depending on our modern version of prepacked capsuled supplements,

For example, most vegetables are packed with what has now been coined as "prebiotics", however they live between the skin layer and flesh of many vegetables such as carrots and other root veggies., So without getting into a prolonged list here, avoid peeling whenever possible. Onions, garlic are especially loaded with "PreBiotics, so when peeling them only remove the outermost skin, that slimy slippery layer is in fact Prebiotics, that prepare the flora in your digestive track for the proper growth and proliferation of "super Bacteria", now known as "Probiotics".

Lastly

Minimize your consumption of meat while in third world countries,

Inasmuch as Western Civilization enjoys an extremely high quality of meat standards and government regulations, it has also left us with a compromised immune system when traveling to certain countries where the same standards are not, or have ever been applied. So remember, eat and play safe.

Happy New Year Friends

Later Gators :)