Do you get sick during travelling? You are most likely to suffer from travel sickness.
Why you feel nauseous while traveling?
Travel or motion sickness is a common condition that affects 70% or 1 in 3 people (Medline Plus). It is actually a movement felt by the inner ear prompted by repeated motion. It can occur on cars, buses, planes, and amusement rides.
Motion sickness triggers a host of symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, vomiting, headache, and restlessness. It is our body’s way of telling us that there is something erroneous with the sensory system.
While most people pack motion sickness medicines like Dramamine with them to ensure stress-free air travel, there’s good news for you. There are many amazing low-weight foods that you can pack in your carry on for your defense against this condition. You can consume them while being on your flight and get rid of that troubling feeling instantly.
Now you can relieve nauseous feeling while traveling with these foods & drinks
Here are few super healthy snacks to consume during your long road trip or in-flight so that the nauseous feeling doesn’t catch you.
1. Herbal teas
The practice of treating diseases and several health conditions through botanicals and herbs dates back to thousands of centuries.
There are some strong herbal teas to treat nausea caused by travel sickness.
- Chamomile tea: Fresh chamomile tea is beloved for its stress and pain-relieving properties. Research on breast cancer women suggested that drinking chamomile tea before chemotherapy reduces the frequency of vomiting.
- The light floral and sweet tea can reduce the nauseous feeling
- Ginger tea: This amazing herbal tea is famous for soothing gestational discomfort. The ginger root has tremendous anti-inflammatory properties.
- Peppermint tea: It is a stomach-friendly tea with a tingling taste that invigorates the senses and keeps you relaxed while in transit. It has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help people eliminating gas and bloating.
A lot of people blend essentials oils of peppermint and ginger and rub them on their back, stomach, and feet.
2. Get some ginger ale
Skip the ginger tea if it’s not convenient, and go for a refreshing ginger ale directly. Ginger is a promising anti-nausea agent and used abundantly in anti-nausea foods and products. It is a carbonated soft drink packaged generally in cans and glass bottles. The fizzy drink
You’ll find so many ginger ale brands in your nearby supermarket. But before you take your first step, make sure to read the label. Buy one that contains real ginger as ingredients. For example, Canada Dry ginger ale is a popular ginger ale brand that says the drink is made from ‘real ginger.’
3. Eat licorice root
Licorice is a research-based root popular for reducing the upset stomach and nauseous feeling due to sea and motion sickness. The root has antiviral properties that stop the formation of ulcers and reduce inflammation that triggers nausea.
You can eat a licorice candy, drink a tea made with this root, or simply chew the herb.
4. Chew cardamoms
Cardamom is an amazing natural remedy for treating and preventing a host of conditions such as nausea, gastritis indigestion, excessive thirst, anorexia, and bitter taste of mouth. The warm, spicy, and balsamic aroma makes cardamoms the best choice for perfumes, essential oils, and anti-nausea inhalers.
Chewing on few whole green cardamoms or cardamom gums may help. Because of their small size and low-weight, you can easily carry a few of them while traveling with children or alone.
5. Buy some tamarind candies
Do you know many airlines give tamarind candies to their passengers during a long-haul flight?
A lot of carriers serve tamarind candies after meals because it helps to reduce motion sickness caused by bulging of the eardrum, which is fairly common during landing and take-offs. Plus, the mix of the sweet and tangy flavor of Tamarind is liked by people, especially pregnant women. They are a source of rich iron, which also reduces the chances of premature birth.
It is full of antioxidants that help in treating indigestion, throat infection, and preventing some form of cancers. Consuming a tamarind drink before traveling can also help you with motion sickness.
6. Peppermint gums or leaves
The flavor that you’ll experience in your iced-tea to Christmas candies is also beneficial for preventing nausea and vomiting. Chewing peppermint gums and leaves is a quick anti-vomiting remedy that also gives an extra hit of coolness.
A 2011 study concluded that people who chew gums twice a day report low anxiety levels. It is suggested to help curb the effects of travel sickness, including dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.
It is also recommended for pregnant women and chemotherapy patients who often complain about nauseous feeling. They relax the gastrointestinal tract relieve the tight, uncomfortable feeling in the stomach. The scent of peppermint essential oil will have the same effect.
7. Pack fennel seeds
A super easy to carry food next on the list is fresh fennel seeds. It is a homeopathic remedy suitable for soothing upset stomach but also curbs nausea caused by motion sickness.
If you don’t have access to seeds, a more convenient option is to buy a mouth freshener containing fennel seeds because it will also give you the same result.
Most people with permanent travel sickness drink fennel seeds water as well. Boil a small amount of fennel seeds, strain the water, cool it, and store it in a water bottle. Keep sipping this water through the day.
People also use fennel seeds for bad breath problem as it eliminates the garlicky and oniony smell from the mouth after a fulfilling meal.
8. Canned olives
Pack a small packet of olives to help you make it through your journey without getting ill. They contain tannins that reduce salivation (a common symptom of nausea) in your mouth and reduce other symptoms making you less likely to throw up.
The salty flavor settles the stomach instantly. So, if you begin to feel sick on your next trip, eat an olive after every minute until your symptoms disappear completely.
9. Citrus fruits and juices
Citrus fruits and juices make great remedies for beating nausea and calm motion sickness symptoms that occur during long train journeys.
You can sip on a lemon drink mixed with few drops of honey or suck on a lemon slice throughout your trip; both will work. Another idea is to take a deep whiff of lemon or sniff citrus scents as it will signal our brain to make GABA compound (a neurotransmitter that helps us remain calm in chaotic situations).
What you need to avoid while travelling
No matter how pleasant the scenery, long routes, traffic jams, and congested public buses make people nauseous. To avoid this, you can take some preventive measures such as avoid foods that can increase the chances for you to hit by motion sickness.
Avoid in-flight cocktails, caffeine drinks, and anything with high sodium content (like French fries, hamburgers, and classic peanuts) as the body will need more water to dilute the salt and caffeine (according to a study by best assignment writing service).
Drinking less water on trips is inevitable but can trigger dehydration, which may lead to motion sickness.
On the flip side, you must know what foods you should eat if you are taking a flight, a road trip, or going on a cruise.
- Flight: Eat protein-packed foods like salads with grilled chicken or boiled eggs.
- Road trips: For long summer trips road trips, keep a shaker bottle with a couple of protein powder and with water or milk to mix with it. Prepare a quick shake whenever ill-feelings hit you.
- Boat: Protein-rich diets with yogurt and nuts and plant-based snacks will be your best friend.
The bottom line
Understanding what triggers motion sickness is half the battle; identifying how to relieve it is the complete solution. It’s no secret that people still prefer natural remedies and foods to treat minor health conditions like motion or travel sickness.
If you travel on meals-on-train, plane, or travelling by road, take some of these super amazing foods (whatever is convenient for you) with you.
These nine super effective foods and drinks are proven to help combat nausea, the top symptom in people who suffer from travel sickness.