6 Things That Cause Bloating While Travelling

Travelling offers excitement, cultural exploration, and new culinary experiences. However, it can also lead to digestive discomfort, with bloating being a common issue. Below, we discuss six reasons why travel can lead to bloating and how you can manage these issues effectively.

1. Prolonged Periods of Inactivity

Long hours of sitting on a plane, train, or in a car can contribute to travel bloating. Extended inactivity reduces blood flow to the digestive tract, slowing down digestion. This can lead to food sitting in the colon longer, fermenting and releasing gas, which results in bloating.

2. Dehydration

Dehydration is a major cause of bloating and digestive discomfort. When the body isn’t sufficiently hydrated, it retains water to compensate, leading to bloating. Alcohol and caffeinated drinks, which are often consumed more during holidays, can worsen dehydration and slow digestion. Ensuring you drink enough water, especially in warmer climates or at high altitudes, is key to maintaining digestive health.

3. Changes in Diet

Travelling often means indulging in foods you don’t usually eat, such as rich, salty, or fatty dishes. This dietary shift can disrupt your digestive balance and lead to bloating. Larger, less frequent meals can also strain digestion, especially when paired with long periods of inactivity during travel.

4. Poor-Quality Water and Food Poisoning

Drinking water and local food quality vary widely across different countries. In places where water sanitation standards are lower, consuming tap water or improperly washed fruits and vegetables can lead to bloating and digestive distress. Ingesting contaminated food or water can result in food poisoning, which causes symptoms like cramping, gas, and severe bloating. Travellers' diarrhoea, often linked to poor water quality.

5. Medical Conditions

For those with pre-existing conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), SIBO, or gluten intolerance, travel can exacerbate symptoms. The stress of navigating new environments and the challenges of maintaining a consistent diet can disrupt usual management strategies and trigger bloating. Changes in routine and limited access to familiar foods can make it hard to adhere to specific dietary needs.

6. Medications

Certain medications can disrupt digestion and contribute to bloating. Antibiotics, NSAIDs, antidepressants, and birth control pills are known culprits. If you regularly take any of these, be mindful of their potential effects when travelling and how they might interact with changes in diet or hydration.

Tips for Managing Travel Bloat

Travelling doesn’t have to mean digestive discomfort. Here are some tips to reduce bloating during your trips:

• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of bottled or filtered water and limit dehydrating beverages like alcohol and caffeine.
• Monitor water quality: Stick to bottled or purified water in countries where tap water may be unsafe. Avoid ice and eat fruits that can be peeled.
• Eat balanced meals: Aim for a diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to support digestion, even when abroad.
• Get moving: Take breaks to stretch your legs and move around during long travel periods to boost circulation.
• Choose safe food options: Be cautious about street food and ensure your meals are from reputable sources.
• Consider digestive support: Probiotics and digestive enzyme supplements can aid in processing unfamiliar foods and maintaining gut health.

Support for Your Digestive Health

Our natural Debloat & Soothe supplement has been designed by qualified nutritionist to help address bloating and SIBO naturally. It is formulated with a blend of anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory botanicals, combined with digestive enzymes and probiotics. These ingredients work synergistically to enhance digestion, support your gut microbiome and prevent bloating, especially during travels.

If you have any questions about our supplement, please visit our contact page and reach out to our friendly team. We are here to ensure our product meets your needs and delivers the results you are looking for, so please get in touch!