How to Prevent Stomach Issues While Traveling in Developing Countries

If you are planning on going to developing countries (including Thailand, Bali Indonesia) you might want to continue reading because most likely you will get the travel belly/travel illness from eating the wrong food/drinking the wrong drinks.

Life working in developing country is exciting and adventurous. What most of us also have experience in battling with our bowel movement: travel illness the stomach problems. My first year in Cambodia, I was constantly having issues with diarrhea, constipation, and food poisoning (thank god no parasites). I have a few tips to share, of what to do and what NOT to do when you are traveling to a developing country.

Preparation & Things That Helped My Stomach : 

1.  Probiotics : Probiotics is my life saver from getting sick, after my first few days in Cambodia my stomach was ruined. Ever since then for a whole year I kept getting sick, I ate yogurt regularly but still didn’t get better until I got my hands on probiotic. It replenishes your stomach with the good bacteria and helps you build to have a better immune system. Start taking some before your trip, and still take it while you are abroad. (I have not yet tried this particular brand, my mom buys one from a Japanese brand but the review looks good)
2. Naturals Organic Psyllium Husk Powder : Some countries I worked in don’t have access to leafy greens, this was my saver. Also when your stomach is messed up, either you are pooping your pants of having constipation. Constipation is not fun, painful and bloody. It got to a point I didn’t go for 4 days. This is a life saver from having blood stools and helps my pooping become easier. It is a fiber supplement (made from plants), you take it with water (let it dissolve) and drink it quickly before it becomes a gelatin. Be sure to drink plenty of water after
3. Always pack toilet paper with you:  I learned this one the first week in Cambodia, I don’t think you want to hear the details. I will make a few hints, food poisoning on the client retreat using a bathroom with no toilet paper. Yeah imagine that, ever since that I am the toilet paper queen. Always have it with me just in case. Just bring it 9/10 bathrooms won’t have toilet paper
4. Healthy Snacks (Nuts, dry fruit, granola bars) or buy local fresh fruits: Dry nuts and healthy food can at times be expensive in certain developing countries. If you are new and planning on going to remote villages, you may not have access to the food options that you are used to. Pack dried nuts, fruits, granola bars, protein bars or buy fresh fruit from the local markets to keep you going during the day. Although some choose to be adventurous with eating locally ( I do at times), and many of those days I have regrets later that day.
5. Pack wet wipes: these are amazing for cleaning my hands, my face, or my bums. Working in the field, most days (at least from my experience) I am constantly sweating. Even when I wasn’t, I covered in dust from the motorcycle ride or just being outside. My body is sticky and with dust stuck to my face, having wet wipes on me always feel refreshed and also helps me to cool down.
6. Hand sanitizer: My hands are filthy after a few hours in the field, don’t ask me how. Most countries I work in, soap isn’t available in the bathroom on top of this I don’t trust purely using the well water to wash my hand when I know I will be peeling my orange or my hands will be scooping rice in a few minutes. It’s just good to have to kill some bacteria.
7. LifeStraw Water Filter Bottle : I got this for my birthday from my uncle this year. What a lifesaver, sometime in the villages I am not sure whether the bottled water was truly ‘bottled’ or they put the cap on again and resell the water. Just to be safe, I always poured my bottled water into the LifeStraw to stay hydrated. Great purchase I love this! You can use this for camping also (PS doesn’t filter chemicals out: such as arsenic)

On the Trip to Prevent Getting Sick:

1. Watch out for the ‘fresh’ ice and water or juices: You don’t know what the ice is made out of, I made that rookie mistake in Cambodia. I would buy ‘bottled’ water and put it with ice, not smart. Be sure to drink from bottle water, and make sure that it hasn’t been opened before.
2. Filter your water with your Lifestraw
3. Wipe your bowls and utensils before eating: If you are traveling to SouthEast Asia, that region is known for delicious street vendors. The chopsticks, spoons, and bowls on the table ‘ready washed’ has been sitting there who knows how long collecting the dust in the air. Wipe it down rinse it with bottled water.
4. Watch out for the sauces & food: You know those delicious hot sauce on the table or sauces, looks so appealing because you know will add an extra kick to your food. Observe it to see whether it has been sitting out in the sun sweating. My first terrible food poisoning in Cambodia was caused by this cute innocent looking chili jar. BE CAREFUL. Take a look at the street vendor to see how they preserve the raw meat, if it isn’t properly refrigerated don’t eat it.
5. Wash your hands before eating always: Seems basic but so many times I forget to do it.

Women: Dealing with your menstrual on the road

I know the topic is on stomach battling, since we are on the bowel topic/bathroom topic I might as well give a few other tips on women menstrual. Most developing countries I have lived in, tampons are expensive and difficult to find. They are basically impossible to find in the rural area, your best bet is in a foreign shop in the capital. I was introduced to Diva Cup  before I moved to Cambodia, it was a life changer. 1. Environmentally friendly because it is reusable 2. Saved me the hassle of having to look for tampons & pads 3. Saved me a ton of money. It usually last me the whole day (morning until right after work), which takes the hassle away from having to change your pads/tampons in the field.

Hope this post will hope you ease some of your bowel problems!

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