A long road trip is a good way to escape stress and improve mood. It allows a person to move out and around as a free soul. Most importantly, it gives a break to mind and soul. Many of us often desire to go on a long car trip. It is a great adventure that has various health benefits.
- It is a good way to promote a positive mindset; this often because of coming across with people having different views and ideas.
- It allows us to enjoy nature’s blessings such as fresh air and sunshine as most of us stay indoors at home and even at work.
- It is a good way to release stress and anxiety and give your mind and body a most required break from stress.
- It is even a good way to connect with loved ones as now technology has created disconnect in relationships.
Though an extremely beneficial experience, it can become a headache if you feel bloated, sleepy, or need to get to the washroom. Therefore, it is very important to avoid several foods whenever sitting on a long road trip.
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Risky Foods To Avoid
Food might interfere with your feeling leading to a sensation of discomfort instead of soothing ones. Thus it is important to learn what food might make a person uneasy during a long road trip and how to avoid it.
1. Greasy Fast Food
Most of the time, it is convenient to grab a cheesy burger, fried chicken, fries, and sandwiches from the drive-thru and enjoy it through a long way drive. Though convenient, it takes too much time to digest. Also, it gives rise to feelings such as drowsiness, laziness.
It also makes a person sluggish; this occurs due to an instant increase in sugar level. Refined carbohydrates mainly tend to increase the blood sugar level to deal with the release of insulin. It leads to a drop in blood sugar level, and resultantly a person feels tired and sluggish.
2. Alcohol
Always avoid alcohol intake before going on a roadside trip. This is crucial as its intake can probably increase the risk of coming across a serious car accident. Car accidents are an extreme outcome of alcohol intake initially; it slows down reflexes making it hard to respond timely.
Also, it is directly linked with blurred vision and even makes a person drowsy. Besides alcohol, it is advisable to avoid various street drugs such as marijuana, heroin, and prescription opioids. If someone is facing difficulty in managing addiction to alcohol and other drugs, Treatment for opioid abuse can save your life or the life of a loved one.
3. Soda Drinks
Soda drinks are very tempting, and anyone can carry them along quite easily. There are two main reasons to avoid soda drinks before going on a long drive. Firstly, it is important to know that soda and carbonated drinks are extremely acidic and can cause heartburn and bloating.
Secondly, it is responsible for delivering a lot of air in the form of carbon dioxide, which can lead to acid reflux. It can be painful and even cause serious damage to the lining of the esophagus and stomach. So it is better to avoid soda drinks and prefer water.
4. Tomatoes
Though tomatoes are nutritious, they can cause burning in many people. Tomatoes-based food such as pizza, pasta, and even ketchup can definitely cause burning. Basically, to digest tomatoes, the stomach produces more gastric juices.
With an increased amount of gastric juice, the chance to get acidity and burning increases a lot. So, it is better to avoid tomatoes and tomato-based foods, especially while going on a long trip.
5. Citrus Food
Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemon, and grapefruit are rich sources of Vitamin C, but it is better to avoid citrus fruits on long trips. Furthermore, citrus fruits can increase the urge to pee more frequently, which is undesirable during long road trips.
6. Milkshake
According to an estimate, about 60% of adults have lactose intolerance. Thus, an intake of dairy products such as milk, cream, and milkshakes can lead to stomach distress. Having said that, dairy products such as cheese have low lactose, and yogurt has good bacteria that are good for the stomach.
Try to avoid milkshakes, especially if you have lactose intolerance, as it could result in gastrointestinal distress and may even lead to diarrhea and gas. Also, the heavy composition of milkshake makes it harder and time taking to digest.
7. Salty Snacks
Many people like to munch on salty snacks such as chips and other snacks, but too much of it can lead to bloating. This happens because salty snacks increase the urge to drink more water. Both salt and water lead to an undesirable condition of bloating.
This is worse to handle and deal with during long trips and can turn a fun and adventure trip into a troublesome experience. So, better avoid salty snacks while going on a long journey.
8. Coffee and Tea
Many people like to take coffee and tea, particularly on long and night trips. The reason is that it helps to stay alert and avoid drowsiness. Though it is useful in staying awake, it is a diuretic. By diuretic, it means that it increases the urge to pee frequently, making it worth avoiding during long trips.
9. Candies
Candies vary in color, flavor, and even composition. Sugar-free and high fructose candies are hard to digest and might even lead to distress. Excessively relying on candies, mainly during road trips when you can barely move around is not healthy. So to avoid unnecessary stress on the stomach, it is essential to stay away from candies on road trips.
Take Away
A long road trip is a pleasant and soothing experience. However, it can become stressful and uncomfortable because of certain food choices. So, it is important to know how food can influence gastrointestinal well-being. Avoiding food that leads to stomach distress is essential and necessary for a smooth journey.
