Healthy on Vacation, Articles, divine.ca

Healthy on Vacation

by Mariève Inoue
published February 25, 2009

rating: (72 Ratings)

Heading south for spring break? Or maybe you’re planning an Asian getaway? Whether you’re travelling to these destinations, Africa, or even some parts of Europe such as Italy and Spain, you’ll need to take certain precautions to avoid food- and water-borne illnesses like Hepatitis A, Typhoid Fever, and Traveller’s Diarrhea. We asked Dr. Dominique Tessier about common mistakes people make on vacation and for tips for a happy, healthy holiday.

Mistake #1:
Drinking tap water.
Seems pretty obvious, right? But you’d be surprised to know how literally this advice is taken; most travellers remember to drink bottled water, but forget not to use tap water to brush their teeth, or not to accept drinks with ice cubes in them. Remember Sex and the City: The Movie? Even drinking a tiny bit of water in the shower can put you at risk of water-borne illnesses.

What to do? Stick to bottled water, juices and soft drinks; ask for no ice in your alcoholic and non –alcoholic beverages, and steer clear of any drinks involving crushed ice (including those delicious piña coladas). If you run out of bottled water, you can always boil some if you have access to a coffee pot or an electric kettle.

Mistake #2:
Eating raw veggies and fruits that don’t need to be peeled.
Raw vegetables and fruits that don’t need peeling could be contaminated and make you sick. These include any kind of berry, lettuce, unpeeled apples, pears, peaches, grapes, and uncooked veggies like celery, tomatoes, carrots, etc.

Safe Foods & Drinks
Anything cooked
Soups
Eggs
Oatmeal
Peeled fruits
Coffee
Tea
Beer
Bottled alcoholic beverages

What to do? Go for fruits that need to be peeled or broken open before they are eaten (like bananas, mangoes, oranges, papayas, pineapple, etc.). People tend to forget that this also applies at the bar: be wary of drinks containing pieces of unpeeled fruit—like a strawberry in a margarita, for example. Don’t worry, though: you can still safely drink out of that fresh coconut!

Mistake #3:
Eating food bought from street vendors.

If food is not recently cooked and piping hot, there is a chance it could be contaminated. People tend to forget that this applies to most kinds of foods sold by street vendors.

What to do? Make a point not to buy food from anyone on the street. Also, when eating at a buffet, scan the place for dishes that have just been put out and are just off the grill. If you think an item of food may have been sitting there for a while, it’s best to just choose something else.

Tag(s): travel

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nikkie_v
February 26, 2009 at 2:43 pm

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1 others heart this

Great tips!!! Very helpful article.
Nancy867
March 3, 2009 at 9:47 am

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Yes, it is very helpful. I knew about the tap water and ice and the exposed cooked foods but wouldn't have thought twice about eating fruits and veggies that don't need to be peeled.
Nancy867
March 3, 2009 at 9:48 am

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I would have thought that as long as they are washed good, they would be fine.
sweeneym
March 3, 2009 at 9:54 am

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If you travel to an all-inclusive resort (4 or 5 star), most of them now wash their fruits and vegetables in distilled water. They also make their ice cubes from distilled water. However, I would still not drink the tap water, even in the shower and I would use bottled water to brush my teeth.