Janet Loves To Travel

The best defense when traveling is boosting your immune system. 

Preparation before the trip: make sure you are well rested and pack in advance to avoid stress which weakens your immune system. Echinacea, vitamin A & C, zinc tablets, probiotics, spices, fruits and vegetables should be ideally incorporated into your daily lifestyle at least a month before departure, allowing ample time for your body to assimilate and prepare for battle, if need be.

- Echinacea has long been used as an effective aid to help shorten the duration of flu and cold symptoms.

- Vitamin A is your skin’s defense, so incorporate more red and orange fruits and vegetables.

- Vitamin C fights diseases and infections, the best food sources are leafy greens, the brassica family (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, etc.) bell peppers, berries, grapefruits, kiwis and oranges to name a few.

- Zinc boosts white blood cells production; great sources are lean meats, squash, seeds, sea food and leafy greens to name a few.

- Probiotics are the latest buzz word and for good reason since a healthy intestinal flora is key in fighting pathogens thus helping conteract the infamus Travellers’ Diarrhea. Look for supplements that contain Lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacteria in the billions. Kefir and plain yogurt are also great natural choices.

- Spices such as turmeric act as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. Ginger will fight nausea, aids digestion and has proven anti-inflammatory properties. Garlic and oregano oil are powerful antibacterial, anti-virus, anti-fungul and anti-parasite.

Snacking: make the wiser choice, go for healthy fruits, nuts or granola bars instead of chips, cookies or chocolate bars. Aside from being more nutritious they will sustain you longer by stabilizing your insuline levels, avoiding the sugar high and low roller coaster.

Beverages : water, tomato juice and green tea are the best options. Coffee dehydrates your body, while alcohol, colas and juices contain a lot of sugar which has an immune-suppressing effect by reducing the ability of white blood cells to kill germs by 40% (this effect starts less than 30 minutes after ingestion and may last for 5 hours).

Food: once onboard try picking the lightest meal, skipping heavy sauces, salty or fatty items, as you may retain water and be uncomfortable on the plane.

Following these simple tips can make your trip more enjoyable and possibly prevent any unwanted disease, leaving you free to enjoy your vacation.

Safe traveling!

Silvana Antonelli, DHN, ROHP, RNCP
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       T 514.967.0059   F 514.694.0059
    Silvana@BasicBalanceNutrition.com
           BasicBalanceNutrition.com

Check out my adventure Feb 13-20: Cycle Cuba with Revatours and Gap Adventures:

Read the rest of this entry »

All Inclusive Vacation Travel – tips from Janet:

Thank you for making me a part of your vacation planning. Here are some tips and comments to make your vacation enjoyable. If you have purchased an all-inclusive package, you are looked after from the point of departure until you return to your home-city airport. Read the rest of this entry »

Getting you there and back in the best shape possible.

Dawn McNevin Joseph, of The Right Fit Fitness, offers these tips to help you feel good when traveling.

Here are a few fitness tips to keep you feeling well (energized and pain free) throughout your flight and upon arrival at your destination. For those of you who fear doing arm circles and lunges down the aisles, these are for you. They are subtle but effective.

DRINK WATER

Before – During – After your flight.

The recycled air on a plane is very dry with little humidity (10-20%). Dehydration can lead to discomforts (dry mouth, throat, eyes and skin), and fatigue.

Drink 8 ounces of water for every hour you are onboard a plane.

When choosing a drink from the cart, keep in mind that alcohol and caffeine dehydrate the body.

 WALK AROUND

Before. During. After. your flight.

Why sit in the waiting room when you know you will be sitting for an indefinite amount of time once you board. Walk around the airport terminals.

While flying, don’t feel guilty about asking someone to move so you can get up and walk around. Prolonged sitting in cramped quarters causes pooling of blood in deep veins of the lower limbs, resulting in leg swelling, so try to move once every hour to hour and a half.

*Remember to plan your walk around in-flight meal services.

Upon arrival, get your leg joints moving after the flight (more than just to your taxi!). Use the stairs, not the escalator and walk around the baggage claim area while you are waiting for your luggage.

In Flight Exercises:

Ball Rolling

 Bring a tennis ball. Roll it under your feet (shoes off).? This relaxes the fascia and increases circulation.

You can also place it under your glute (butt cheek) to release glute tension.

 Pectoral (chest) Stretch

Stand parallel to the corner of a wall. Place one arm at a 90 angle on the wall (at the rear of the plane there is usually room).? Keep elbow and forearm supported. Step the same foot forward as arm that you are stretching. Lean your body gently forward as you rotate away from wall. The stretch should be felt across your chest and into the front of your shoulder.

 Glute (butt) Stretch

Sitting in your seat, cross one ankle over the opposite knee. Sit up tall through your spine. If you need an additional stretch, pike straight forward at your waist, keeping your low back straight. Hold for 1-3 minutes. Repeat if necessary.

Sit up straight in your seat and cross arms across shoulders. Rotate gently as far as you can to one side, side bend to that side, unbend and rotate a little further. Repeat 3 times each side. Your upper back rotation should improve.

Keep in mind that some airports have gyms. Bring your gym clothes or at least a pair of running shoes and make the best of a layover or delayed flight.

For a list of gyms in and near Canadian and US airports, check out:

http://www.airportgyms.com/

Don’t Just Do it, Do it Right.

Janet has finally decided to check out Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic to see what her clients have been loving and hating about the area.

One week at the Grand Paradise Bavaro in the all-new Sunquest Select section? should allow her time to enjoy the facilities and take some excursions while verifying the quality of the beach too. After all, Janet’s job is to make sure YOUR vacation destinations measure up to your standards!!

The verdict: I loved it. Magnificent white powdery sand beaches stretched for miles? so I could walk? until my? feet hurt.? A great way to combine exercise and sun! Lots of huge rolling surf to enjoy too. ? All of the travellers I met enjoyed their resorts and experience, including the majority for whom this was not the first trip to Punta Cana. Read the rest of this entry »

? ? Janet went to Holguin, Cuba in October 2007.? ? It was lovely!!!! Very hot, lots of sun and gorgeous beach to enjoy. Travel in the off season is worth the risk of hurricanes, in Janet’s opinion.

I stayed at the Occidental? Grand Playa Turquesa. It is a? very large resort with all of the amenities. Golf carts were available to take you around if needed, and I could see why. Some folks would appreciate the walking to alleviate the effects of the terrific food, while others would find it too demanding.

The rooms were huge!! The section I was in contained? a series of buildings, each with 4 or 6 rooms set up above the ground. The rooms had 2 beparate beds plus a daybed? along the wall near the balcony doors. The shower stall was a little slow to drain, but certainly not the slowest I have seen! Large counter area in the bathroom and more than adequate shelving and hanging space in the closest.

The beach was delightful- white powdery sand, several large trees Read the rest of this entry »

Check out the information on this website from the Foreign Affairs and International Trade department of the federal government:

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/before/children_travel-en.asp

A brief overview:

-ensure that each child has a calid Canadian passport

-obtain a certified letter authorizing travel? (www.voyage.gc-ca/alt/letter.asp)

-seek advice from a lawyer if a custody dispute might develop while abroad

-never leave a young child unattended and keep some form of identification in the child’s pocket in case you are separated

-arrange in advance with airlines for unaccompanied minors

-use an approved safety seat for infants

-bring an adequate supply of baby products

Read the details on the website:

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/before/children_travel-en.asp? or contact the Consular Affairs Bureau:

1-800-267-6788 or 1-613-944-6788, TTY 1-800-394-3472 or 1-613-944-1310

email: voyage@international.gc.ca

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One of my favourite websites is the Adventurous Wench, and here is one? of the articles from the newsletter they send out.

Check it out for yourself or your special lady friend! www.adventurouswench.com

Don’t pack more than you can carry. If you can’t roll it, lift it, or lug it, you’ve packed too much!

Pack clothes that are versatile, comfortable and appropriate for your trip.? If you’re hiking through the Andes, then a strapless dress will probably go unworn.

Layer clothing for warmth and space.? Instead of packing single-use items, wear a T-shirt under a sweater, under a coat for multiple clothing options.

Bring tops and bottoms that you can mix and match.? If every top goes with every bottom, even with only a few pieces, your choices will be many.

Limit yourself to 3 pairs of shoes (including those you wear on the plane).? Depending on the trip, you could include hiking boots, walking shoes, something dressy, or flip-flops.? Make them all comfortable.

Good travel clothes are lightweight and wrinkle-resistant.? Keep them looking good by rolling items before packing (this fits more in your bag, too.)

Using the hotel laundry (or washing things in your bathroom) lets you pack less.? Instead of packing 21 pairs of socks, you could pack 7 and do laundry twice.

Is shampoo, soap, etc. taking up a lot of space in your bag?? Leave them behind and use the goodies the hotels supply, or buy small sample-sized products.

Security tips from the experts at FCS SecurityHappy Vacations can be spoiled if you return to a ransacked home. Unoccupied dwellings are a favourite target for a thief. Precautions for the safekeeping of your home while your family is away on vacation can provide the important factors of safety and peace of mind.  Read the rest of this entry »

In late August of 2006, Janet travelled into northern Idaho, Washington and British Columbia to enjoy the scenery, sunshine and cycling.

The weather was fantastic- hot and sunny every day, so the numerous lakes and waterways proved a refreshing treat.

Around Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, there are several miles of trails for all abilities. We prefer pavement, so the converted railway lines were a delight. A paved trail runs along Lake Coeur d’Alene through the city, so it is a terrific way to enjoy the water views, see the city and get some exercise. There are several small cafes downtown when it is time for a break, and the large public park at the beach was a perfect place to cool. Lots of shade on the grass, or tons of sun on the sandy beach. The water was clear and refreshing. Hard to leave! Read the rest of this entry »