HEALTH TIPS from RANDOM, YET LEGIT RESOURCES

TIPS AND EXPERIENCES WHEN I TRAVEL/LED:

(cited resource: https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/sickness-and-travel)

For about 6 years, I had been traveling within the United States (starting from the East Coast and Mid West states) and I didn’t feel the need to do any special medical check-ups (vaccinations and things of that nature). Because I was traveling nationally, I already knew that if anything happened to me, health-wise, my health insurance would cover me. It wasn’t until I planned and finally booked my first international flight, I started to worry about “medical issues” since I will be out of the country. I looked into types of travel insurances and eventually I got one. I am NOT sponsored by the insurance agency, but I researched the heck out of it, and I had concluded to choose WORLD NOMADS as my travel insurance agency. I traveled to New Zealand (only North Island for now) and…it was AWESOME!!! As much as I love my home, San Francisco Bay Area, I LOVE New Zealand because of its clean air, hospitable people, lovely accents and so much wildlife and natural beauties. Did I mention its cleanliness? I will forever love the Bay Area, but for now, I love New Zealand as my international destination.

As mentioned before, I traveled using World Nomads’ travel insurance. Here are the tips that the agency sent me via email(s) before traveling:

Get vaccinated–the key word was “prevention” and that “prevention is greater than the cure (World Nomads, 2017).” The agency recommended to research the types of common diseases, bugs, viruses and health misfortunes that others who have traveled at that chosen destination and consult with your primary care physician. It also suggested to load up on necessary vitamins and cut down on your liquor intake.
Familiarize yourself of the health system in that new country you will be visiting–World Nomads suggests that we know what type of health care system we will need in case of an emergency. When I went to New Zealand, I was told by locals that it is free medical care funded by the government (though dental care will cost you a pretty penny). World Nomads also suggests to know where to locate these medical clinics (hospitals, centers) and to learn a few phrases in that new country’s language that will help locals or local medical workers know how to diagnose your illness (ie: “I feel pain in my…” “It hurts when I…”) and also words of your anatomy that may be affected like stomach, head, throat, legs, eyes, etc. When I traveled to New Zealand, I didn’t have anything that would jeopardize my health and thank goodness! New Zealand was just perfect for me!
Get insured–of course! There’s the catch! But, I do recommend getting insured when traveling internationally because in any event, you may need it. I insured myself with World Nomads because it was my top 3 travel insurance agencies on my research list. It also gave me an opportunity to donate to a humanitarian cause, which I love to do! I am not rich, but I am a believer in helping others who are in need, and I had no issues with World Nomads, so I will be using its services when I travel to the South Island of New Zealand. Again, I am NOT sponsored by World Nomads, but I do like the company based on my own research.
DO NOT DRINK TAP water–World Nomads as well as my own primary care physician, legitimate online medical sources, my own medical insurance website and just family and friends told me to NOT DRINK ANY TAP or NON-BOTTLED WATER. Though this is common sense to me, I was surprised to read and even hear of the horror stories of people drinking unsanitary water. I read several accounts of people who traveled to rural developing countries, and they got extremely sick and some near to death all because they didn’t check their water sources. Even developed countries, such as the United States or “Murica,” has states that are dealing with water sanitary issues like Flint, Michigan. When I had traveled to visit Detroit in early 2015, I wanted to visit Flint while I was in that state. The semester before, I was researching the city of Detroit in my Urban Studies and Planning curriculum. Issues were to focus the racial and poverty history of this once great city. A semester later, I enrolled in an amazing environmental justice class that focused on racial and environmental issues of great cites…and BINGO! I was in the group that focuses on the city of Flint’s water crisis. I’ve learned that water issues are more than just contaminated water but the process of contamination. For developing countries as I have heard from accounts of family, friends, and health care professionals, the process of water contamination can be because of the city planning of places, the sanitary practices of the community, the irrigation system of the waterways and many more. Water is recycled through the process of condensation, precipitation and evaporation (I’m having flashbacks as an elementary kid at some school event of “Recycle, Reduce, and Reuse”), so it’s the process of how it gets contaminated is what is worrisome.

ENRICHED-IODINE FOODS

(cited resource: https://draxe.com)

I had a physical check-up with my primary physician, and she suggested that I start eating Iodine-rich foods and taking Iron pills and Vitamin B-12 pills or “vitamins” as I often tell my own residents when I give prescribed medications. Because I do not consume foods that are enriched in the above vitamins, she also suggested I consume foods that have enough natural iodine. I’m a stubborn patient meaning I DO NOT like taking or ingesting pills if I can consume the vitamins naturally, so my physician gave me a list (as well as my medical insurance company) of Iron-rich foods and Vitamin D-rich foods. It was manageable. I was surprised that Ovaltine and Milo were on the Iron-rich list. Sure, more Ovaltime, please! I knew that I would have to come across eating a fish (my loved ones know how I feel about fish or seafood), and so, consuming fish and other types of meat was Vitamin B-12 list. I eat meat and plants, but I am more of a poultry-consumer than any other meats. It also had some dairy products which I like: yogurt, kefir, milk, cheese. On the Vitamin B-12 list, it was and still is doable, but I will have to constantly remind myself to put the chicken down and pick up the fish. Finally, my physician suggested for me to consume daily 150-200 mcg (micrograms) of Iodine-rich foods. I just know that I’ll be eating more sushi and musubi (wishful thinking!). I learned a lot about the Iodine-rich foods list, which I know nothing about anything, but I thought I would be lacing my food with iodine…yes…I know. *slow clapping then it fades*

Here’s the Iodine-rich food list from Dr. Axe: