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RV Travels How To Stay Healthy On The Road
t's no secret amongst Well, the best thing about health
experienced RV travelers: is that it's pretty much a
self-reliance saves money. do-it-yourself program. You have,
The more independent you are of within yourself, considerable
tourist parks, power hook-ups and power to make a significant
all those other so-called impact. Believe it or not, for
necessities, the further your the majority of us, that means we
budget will stretch. And the require little or no help from
greater will be your freedom. the medical and pharmaceutical
fraternities!
In fact serious RV nomads find
real challenge in living Of course, any comprehensive
comfortably on remote campsites, D.I.Y. health program comprises a
and in replenishing resources range of inter-dependent
along the way. But no matter how activities, but while on the road
successful we may be in this there are three key elements that
quest, there's one universal RV travelers ought to consider:
factor that can destroy our plans
and negate all our skills in one 1. Protection (against physical
cruel blow: Poor health. In just and biological threat)
a day or two, years of experience 2. Exercise
could be all but wiped out. 3. Diet
There seems little doubt that, to PROTECTION
be truly independent, good health
must be our first priority. Even the healthiest people in the
Without it, all else is wasted. world have a fundamental need to
protect themselves. After all,
OK. So what's the good news? countless simple hazards have the
potential to put us "out of
action", and mobile, outdoor extra care.
lifestyles certainly present
those sorts of threats. Slow down, fasten your seat belt,
and stay alert and you can feel
For example, motoring hazards assured that, apart from an
confront us in several forms. occasional adrenalin surge,
There's the ever-present risk of everything will be all right.
mechanical failure -- such as
brakes or steering -- that could The other area where we may need
result in personal injury. Even protection is in countering a
seemingly minor problems like a variety of potential biological
leaking exhaust system can become attacks. Impure water, for
a major threat under certain instance, can very quickly ruin
circumstances. your day -- perhaps a whole week!
When in doubt, boil drinking and
The solution rests largely in cooking water vigorously for at
keeping vehicle, caravan, least three minutes.
motorhome or whatever in the best
condition possible. Regular Contaminated or spoiled foods may
servicing, along with daily have a similar effect, so strict
inspections, almost guarantee hygiene and careful refrigeration
that mechanical problems won't are even more critical than back
arise unexpectedly. home in suburbia. You also need
to be extremely thorough when
Driving conditions are another disposing of kitchen and toilet
risk. Heavy traffic, narrow waste. Here in Australia, our
mountain roads, and high wind reputation for hordes of
present a range of tricky over-friendly flies is indicative
situations. Again, the risk can of a more serious potential
be minimized simply by taking threat to our health.
anywhere.
Other insects, too, can be a
problem. Mosquitoes, spiders, Even so, the real benefits of
wasps, ants and scorpions are walking are its gradual, but
just a few of the common nasties certain and significant effects
across the country, so travelers on your health. It helps lower
should prepare accordingly with blood pressure, reduces body
screening, repellents and weight, and develops efficient
appropriate clothing. heart and lung functions. All of
which are free!
In essence, protection boils down
to this: BE CAREFUL. Don't take Not only that, you can build a
risks, and apply a generous walking program slowly over
dollop of common sense. several months from, say, a 15
minute stroll to a 45 minute
EXERCISE vigorous walk. Do that four or
five times each week and you'll
Even when traveling, it's a good soon be getting about all the
idea to maintain a reasonable exercise you need. Before long,
exercise program. But there is a you'll feel great, look good and
catch: To avoid costly courts or sleep better. And you'll have fun
gyms, or the added weight of doing it.
exercise equipment, the range of
suitable activities while living DIET
on the road is severely limited.
For optimum health on the road we
Fortunately, the best exercise of need to take a holistic view of
all is walking. It's free, diet. By my definition, then,
requires only sturdy, comfortable diet is the sum total of
footwear, and can be enjoyed everything taken into the body --
usually via the mouth. quantity alcohol is now believed
to be beneficial in helping us to
The greatest favour we can do for relax. It's those long, hard
ourselves is to take control over drinking sessions, repeated
this daily process. Even years of frequently over many years that
abuse can be reversed if you make eventually take their toll.
a firm commitment to improve your
selection and quantity of foods, So it's wise to try to limit
drink and other substances. alcohol intake by, firstly,
substituting a glass of water for
Worst intake of all is cigarette every second or third alcoholic
smoke. Maybe it's not always drink, and secondly, making a few
possible to avoid other people's days each week completely alcohol
expired smoke, but if it's you free. Your body soon rids itself
doing the smoking, you certainly of toxin build up, allowing vital
can take charge. For your health, organs to resume their job.
your finances, and your traveling
independence, if you smoke, make With regard to food intake, as
a determined effort to stop. far as possible build your meals
around fresh fruit and
Another common substance is vegetables. When these aren't
alcohol. Although it's not up in available, canned or dried
the same danger zone as nicotine, substitutes provide equivalent
your body benefits enormously if nutrition. Other high value foods
you limit the intake of alcoholic include breads -- particularly
drinks. wholegrain -- cereals, pasta and
rice.
But don't get me wrong here. A
glass or two of beer or wine are At the same time, try to limit
very enjoyable, and in limited your consumption of salt, sugar,
oils and fats, desserts and are necessary.
sweets, cakes, butter, fast
foods, and full-fat dairy Nevertheless, the really good
products. Even eggs and fatty news is, the increased freedom
meats should be eaten in and independence will definitely
moderation. Not only does health make it all worthwhile.
improve, you also stand to save a
bundle.
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