Dyt. from Medicana Health Group Nutrition and Diet Department. Sena Nur Doğan said that the biggest cause of bloating, indigestion and digestive system changes during travel is the difference in microbiome.
Traveling can cause some changes in your body. When you go to a new city or country, not only geography and cultures change, but also your digestive system. People may experience bloating, indigestion and digestive system changes during trips, vacations and travels to different regions. While each region has its own unique microbial species, the environment can greatly affect the gut microbiome structure.
Emphasizing that factors such as geographical differences, racial diversity, age, gender, drug use and eating habits play an important role in the structure of the microbiome, Dyt. Sena Nur Doğan explained that these factors cause differences in the digestive system during travels. Dyt. Sena Nur Doğan gave information about the effects of travels on the digestive system.
Dyt. Sena Nur Doğan said, “Changes in eating habits, different culinary cultures, fluctuations in physical activity level and time zone changes can also create temporary imbalances in the body's microbiota. The environment we live in affects the intestinal system.”
Stating that increased travel with the ease of transportation has brought microbiome diversity, Dyt. Sena Nur Doğan said, “Each environment, each region has its own microbial species. The environment we live in greatly affects intestinal microbiome diversity. Geographical and racial differences in microbiome structure; factors such as age, gender, drug use also affect immunity and dietary load.”
The biggest cause of bloating and indigestion
Dyt. Emphasizing that the biggest cause of bloating, indigestion and digestive system changes during travel is the difference in microbiome, Doğan said:
“In addition to changes such as the culinary culture encountered in a new geography, decreased or increased physical activity and air pressure effect can cause noticeable changes in human health. Dehydration, which can be caused by the intense pace, and disruptions in the circadian rhythm encountered when moving to a different time zone are among the causes of these disorders. Studies show that even a change in diet lasting less than 5 days can affect the microbiota and cause differences.”
The body needs time to get used to the new order
“Your body and intestines will continue to work at full throttle for you to adapt to new conditions in the fastest way possible,” said Dyt. Sena Nur Doğan stated that there are studies showing that the microbiota starts to adapt to the new order after an average of two weeks.
Noting that time is needed for the body to get used to the changing air, water and food, Doğan made the following suggestions:
“While your body adapts to new conditions, consuming enough water, getting support from probiotic food supplements, increasing your physical activity, consuming fiber sources such as whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, limiting the consumption of different types of fats and packaged products that you are not used to will positively accelerate this adaptation process.”
Travel for your gut health
“While exposure to certain types of pathogens can harm your health, exposure to different types of microbes can make your gut healthier,” said Dyt. Sena Nur Doğan underlined that as human history progressed from hunting and gathering to rural farming and then to industrialized urban life, some of the microbial diversity was lost.
Dyt. Doğan said, “However, it is diversity that builds resilience. Being in different geographies, getting to know the food, air and water there will diversify your microbiota and increase your resilience.”
