FOREVER YOUNG
Whether you’re traveling near or far, these tricks are proven to help sickproof your vacation
“I brush [my hair] out every night…it’s almost a meditative
thing.”
Julia Ormond, 53
You’re looking forward to a much-needed getaway, and you’ve got no room on your itinerary for sickness. Fortunately, it’s easy to ward off travel-related symptoms, assures May Loo, M.D., author of East-West Healing. “There are effective and simple ways to safeguard your health so you can enjoy your summer activities no matter where they take you.” Read on for the study-proven strategies to help you prevent common travel woes.
TO NIX INSOMNIA
Strange beds, disrupted schedules and stress-inducing packing and planning raise cortisol levels, doubling your risk of sleep troubles, say Cornell scientists. The fix: Take five minutes before bed to brush your hair and scalp. Brushing stimulates scalp nerves and activates the parasympathetic nervous system — an effect that cuts cortisol release by 25 percent, so you drift off in half the time.
TO FOIL FOOD POISONING
For years we’ve heard mayonnaise is a picnic no-no, but researchers at the University of Georgia say adding the pantry staple to foods like potato and macaroni salads reduces the food’s bacteria level by 95 percent. The reason? Commercial mayo is acidic, so it kills food-poisoning triggers like salmonella and E. coli. That’s good news for women over 50 since the immune system is less able to eliminate sickness-causing bacteria as we age.
TO PREVENT SUNBURN
You always pack sunscreen for trips to sunny destinations, but Australian researchers have found that active ingredients in the product break down 67 percent faster when they’re exposed to high temperatures, making you vulnerable to painful burns if you leave the bottle in your car, a beach bag or another hot spot. Fortunately, simply storing sunscreen in an insulated lunch bag or cooler will ensure the SPF listed on the bottle is accurate for a full three years, keeping your skin safe.
TO FEND OFF HEADACHES
Varying your caffeine intake while on vacation can confuse the central nervous system, which responds by tamping down the production of pain-soothing beta brain waves — and without beta waves, the risk of tension headaches soars. To ward off the pain, researchers suggest going outside for five minutes each morning and inhaling the scent of grass. Tip: Roll a few blades between your fingers to release organic compounds that activate beta brain waves, often within a minute of the first sniff.