Travel Health Advice

Exotic travel destinations such as India, Mexico, and Egypt gain popularity year upon year. Optibac Probiotics has compiled a quick list of travelling tips and information. Read our advice for your travel health, safety & comfort, before beginning your adventures in Egypt or India.

Travel Health & Safety Tips

• Seek professional advice on vaccinations. Call your GP surgery  to find out which vaccinations you need for your trip. Do bear in mind that not all vaccinations are available for free on the NHS, so this may have to be factored into your travel budget.
• Do your research before you travel. These days you can find a huge amount of information online.
• Always apply high factor sunscreen, wear sunhats, and avoid the hot midday sun. Do not be fooled into thinking that cloud cover gives protection; people even get burnt during India's monsoon season!
• Drink plenty of bottled water throughout your trip, to avoid dehydration.
• Be sure to take a First Aid Kit with you. This should contain antiseptic wipes, painkillers, dressings, plasters, moquito repellent and tweezers.
• Watch our for your bags, especially in bustling areas such as markets, or railway stations. Top safety tip:- Be safe, not sorry, and wear your rucksack on your front.
• And last but not least, up to 60% of people travelling to developing countries experience traveller's diarrhoea. Maintaining your gut health can be simple. Don't get caught out by India's Delhi Belhi or Egypt's Pharoah's Curse!

As Dr Georges Mouton, internationally renowned expert in gastro-intestinal health, advises, "The balance of bacteria in the intestines is fragile and can easily be disrupted. It is not uncommon for foreign food & drink in countries such as India or Egypt to be contaminated by harmful bacteria like Salmonella and pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli (E.coli)."

Dr Mouton describes three simple tips to reduce chances of contracting diarrhoea whilst travelling. His advice: "Regular hand washing, and minimising intake of raw foods & tap water are the basic precautions, but the most effective solution is to take a specially formulated probiotic"

References

1. McFarland, L. V. (2007) Meta analysis of probiotics for the prevention of traveller's diarrhoea. Travel medicine and Infectious Disease. Vol. 5, Issue 2, pp 97-105