Regular air travel can take a toll on the human body. Frequent fliers are exposed to myriad chemical toxins, poor air conditions, and radiation. It is estimated travelers are exposed to a thousand times more radiation on a cross-country flight than a person on the ground. In Travel Smart, Live Wise, author Stephanie A. Coleman offers a road map to overcoming these challenges and provides tips for living healthy to those who travel frequently by plane. Coleman, a flight attendant for more than thirty-eight years and a holistic healing professional, blends her experience and knowledge to present six key factors to staying healthy while traveling: Live in a nontoxic environment. Be alkalized-have a proper pH balance in your digestive system. Stay well hydrated. Get the minerals to support health and eat healthy foods Exercise and be active. Develop a positive attitude and have optimism for the future. Travel Smart, Live Wise provides a host of physical and mental strategies for those who want to live a better life.

Travel Smart, Live Wise

AN INSIDER'S GUIDE TO HEALTHY TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLEBy Stephanie A. Coleman

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2012 Stephanie A. Coleman
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4620-1302-9

Contents

Preface.................................................................................viiAcknowledgments.........................................................................ixIntroduction............................................................................xiChapter 1: Living in a Nontoxic Environment.............................................1Radiation...............................................................................5Air Pressure............................................................................6Air Quality.............................................................................6Jet Lag.................................................................................6Chapter 2: Keeping a Healthy Internal Environment.......................................11Keep Your pH Balanced...................................................................11Avoid Soft Drinks.......................................................................14Quit Smoking............................................................................16Get Enough Sleep........................................................................17Take Green Tea..........................................................................20Chapter 3: Being Well Hydrated..........................................................25The Body's Need for Water...............................................................25Symptoms of Dehydration.................................................................26Chapter 4: Digestion and Healthy Foods..................................................29Why Digestion Is Important..............................................................29The Digestive System....................................................................29Elimination.............................................................................34Cycles of the Digestive System..........................................................35Food Combining..........................................................................36Fasting.................................................................................41Chapter 5: Being Active.................................................................43The Importance of Exercise..............................................................43Benefits of Exercise....................................................................43The Importance of Muscle................................................................44Body Types..............................................................................48Chapter 6: Having a Healthy Mental Attitude: You Are What You Think.....................51Chapter 7: Special Areas of Concern to Fliers...........................................55Varicose Veins..........................................................................55Hearing Loss............................................................................60Carpal Tunnel Syndrome..................................................................61Health Tips for Fliers..................................................................62Conclusion..............................................................................65About the Author........................................................................67References..............................................................................69

Chapter One

Living in a Nontoxic Environment

To maintain a healthy external environment, you first need to be aware of all potential harm. You should understand that your skin is your largest detoxification organ. What most folks don't realize is that what you place on your skin is absorbed into your system. A lot of what you are exposed to in your environment is not under your control: gas emissions, weather toxins, pesticides, airplane fuel, and electromagnetic fields. However, there are some toxins you can control—things in your food and in your cosmetics, for example.

General guideline: If you cannot pronounce the ingredients in the lotions you use or in the food you eat, don't use or eat them.

* Many deodorants have aluminum, so you should not use them. Aluminum is a metal used extensively in aircraft components, prosthetic devices and as an ingredient in antiperspirants, antacids and antiseptics. Aluminum has been linked to Alzheimer's disease, currently afflicting 1 in 2 persons over the age of 70. Contamination may occur through the use of aluminum pots and pans, aluminum soda cans, and antiperspirants and other household items. Aluminum can clog your lymph system and prevent proper elimination of poisons from your body. You can find deodorants that don't have aluminum at most health-food stores.

* Although pharmaceutical companies want you to believe that it is good for you, fluoride is a poison. It is best to use toothpaste that is fluoride-free. Most health-food stores offer toothpaste that does not contain fluoride.

* There are a great many cosmetics that have toxic ingredients. Formaldehyde is commonly used in nail polish. Formaldehyde is also used as a disinfectant, a fixative, and a preservative. The EPA believes it to be a possible carcinogen; however, the FDA does not think it poses enough risk to necessitate regulation in cosmetics.

* When combined with water, lanolin can cause skin rashes.

* Mineral oil on the skin hinders respiration by repelling oxygen.

* Bentonite is a kind of clay; when used in cosmetics, it may clog pores and, as a result, suffocate the skin.

* Talc is a soft green mineral used in personal hygiene products and in cosmetics. Talc can cause lung cancer when breathed in. It is used in the making of condoms and is used for diaper rash and genital hygiene. Talc has been known to cause uterine cancers.

* Salt (sodium chloride) in most products can be very drying and corrosive.

* Animal collagen is found in a lot of cosmetics. This product is made from ground-up animal carcasses, not something I want on my skin.

* Glycerin is used as a solvent and tends to dry the layers of the skin.

* Alcohol can cause body tissues to become more vulnerable to cancer-causing agents. It is also very drying to body tissues.

Learn to read labels. If you can't pronounce the ingredients, think twice before buying the product. You can buy very good and helpful products at health food stores or online.

Table 1.1 lists some common food and cosmetic additives to avoid, in addition to the ones listed above. To help you understand Table 1.1, here are a few useful words:

* Excipient: Excipients are binders, fillers, and "glues" that are typically nonnutritive substances added to nutritional products. These substances often prove to be toxic.

* Neurotoxin: A neurotoxin is a poisonous complex that acts on the nervous system to damage or kill cells.

* Teratogen: A teratogen is a substance that can cause malformation of the developing embryo.

* Immune-compromising: Immune-compromising means that the substance can damage your body's immune system.

Radiation

When we talk about our external environment and toxicity, as Frequent fliers, we cannot ignore radiation. Most people think you can only be hurt by radiation from X-rays, toll booths, or chemicals.

Did you know that cosmic...