Ask Our Experts: Eating To Avoid Travel-Sickness
Travel-sickness is no fun for anyone. The good news is, you can usually
minimise the chances of it happening! Our nutrition expert, David Swain,
advises.
Raisingkids member's problem
We're planning to drive to Italy for
our summer holiday, butu our youngest gets car-sick and I'm dreading it.
Please do you have any tips for avoiding travel sickness?
David's advice
Travel
sickness appears to occur when the brain receives conflicting signals
from the internal balance system (located in the inner ear and containing
fluid-filled canals that react to strong repetitive movements) and ones
eyes, which tell the brain where you are in space and confirm your direction
of motion.
 Travel
sickness can strike anyone but children seem particularly prone to it
and I'm sure you are aware of the symptoms which include nausea, vommiting
and dizziness. The digestive system isn't the cause of the problem but
it is often affected and because of this one should avoid eating or drinking
heavily before or during a journey. In particular, fatty foods and carbonated
drinks seem to upset the stomach.
In addition, you should encourage your children
to have frequent sips of water to help prevent dehydration (this is particularly
important when flying as pressurised cabins are dehydrating). Furthermore,
if your child is sick be sure to replace lost fluids with frequent small
sips of cold, still water.
Non-nutritional tips that can help prevent travel
sickness, or at least help minimise the symptoms include:
- avoid letting your child read when travelling;
try to get them to focus on distant objects (try games that will encourage
this e.g. I Spy
- open the windows of your vehicle whenever
possible to get fresh air
- if travelling by boat or plane try to sit
in an area with the least motion (usually in the middle of the craft)
- try to get your child to look forwards out
of the front windscreen (an elevated seat may help)
- don't dwell on travel sickness as you may
put the belief into your child's head that he/she is always going to
be sick.
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