11 Ways to Avoid Travel Constipation

Drink Plenty of Water

One of the biggest contributors to constipation is a state of dehydration. When bodies don't have enough fluids, they compensate by drawing water from the fecal matter in the intestines. This can contribute to hard, difficult-to-pass stools.

The presence of harder stools seems to make bowels less responsive and reduces motility, or movement. It's essential to make a conscious effort to drink plenty of fluids while traveling.

Milk also has a reputation for causing constipation. Your best beverage choices are plain water, fruit juices, and clear soups. When traveling out of the country you must always drink bottled water so as to avoid the dreaded travelers' diarrhea.

When flying, keep in mind that Transportation Security Administration (TSA) rules do not allow you to bring liquids through airport security. Once you are through security, you can buy a large water bottle to drink throughout your flight.

Listen to Your Body

Try to use a bathroom as soon as you feel the need for a bowel movement. Ignoring the urge can lead to constipation as the stool material stays in your rectum and gets harder. The harder the stool, the more difficult it is to pass.

If you are uncomfortable using a public facility for a bowel movement, try listening to music through earphones or reading a magazine to help you to relax.

Try not to strain. If you find that sitting on the toilet does not produce a bowel movement within five to 10 minutes, it is best to get up and wait to try again later.

Try to Stay on Schedule

Many people have a sense of an inner clock that determines routine life patterns about hunger, sleep, and bathroom needs. Keep your body on a schedule as close to your home life, and it may help your bowels to move predictably when you travel.

Whenever possible, try to make sure that there is time for a relaxed bathroom visit when traveling that's similar to the unpressured experience at home.

Take Time for Meals

Many people who travel eat their meals on the run. The problem is that your digestive system may not register these on-the-go snacks as a meal.

Larger meals can stimulate gut contractions, thus prompting a timely bowel movement. So whenever possible, sit down, slow down, and enjoy a full meal.

Eat a Good Breakfast

For many people, bowel movements are more likely to occur in the morning. You can enhance this natural boost by eating a large breakfast, preferably consuming foods that contain healthy fats.

Large meals and dietary fat intake can both stimulate the release of certain hormones within your body that can trigger the urge for a bowel movement. Staying on track with your morning routine can help you to enjoy your trip for the rest of the day.

Drink Something Warm

Another way to encourage your bowels to empty at the beginning of your day is to drink a warm liquid in the morning. This warm drink could be coffee, tea, or soup.

If you are a coffee drinker, have that morning coffee. There are compounds in coffee, both caffeinated and decaffeinated, that can serve to stimulate a bowel movement.

However, you may want to avoid drinking caffeinated coffee through the rest of the day, as caffeine can be dehydrating. This could lead to excess water being drawn from your stool, which may contribute to constipation.

Eat Plenty of Fiber

Dietary fiber is so important to keep your bowels moving consistently. Eating high-fiber foods when traveling can be a bit of a challenge, but with effort and attention, you can find what you need.

Whenever possible, it may help to pack such foods for yourself. Fruits, high-fiber protein bars, trail mixes, cereals, and granolas all travel well.

When traveling abroad, you need to be careful about eating raw vegetables, fruits, and salads so as to avoid bacterial infections that can lead to travelers' diarrhea. It is safer to eat only cooked fruits and vegetables. Fruits that have thick skins you can peel for yourself are also a safe option.

Take a Pass on Junk Food

People tend to eat more junk food while traveling for two reasons: The first is that choices for healthy, whole foods are more limited. The second is the "vacation mindset" that leads people to bend the rules on their behaviors.

Junk food typically tends to be low in fiber, which can contribute to the problem of travel constipation. Try to avoid fast food, processed meats, chips, and baked goods.

Instead, look for salads, whole grain options like oatmeal, and lean meats. Yogurt is an especially good choice as it contains some probiotics that may boost your digestive system function.

Move Your Body

Travel often requires a lot of time sitting, whether that be in the car, on trains, in airports, or on airplanes. Moving your body can help your digestive system to keep moving as well.

While waiting for your plane, you can walk the perimeter of the airport. If traveling by car, try to plan for road stops so that you can stretch your body and perhaps do a little walking. While away, take advantage of hotel pools and gyms to keep up your exercise routine.

Stay Relaxed

Travel itself can be stressful. Try to follow the rule that "the journey is part of the vacation." Be prepared for delays, traffic, and other hassles. Make sure that you bring along favorite reading materials, books on tape, music, or game apps.

It may help to use relaxation exercises such as deep breathing techniques, yoga poses, meditation, and muscle relaxation to deal with travel stress.

Keeping your body in a state of relaxation, as opposed to its stress response changes, will help to keep your digestive system functioning as it should.

Talk to Your Healthcare Provider

If you know that you are likely to have bowel habit changes when traveling, speak with your healthcare provider before you go. They may recommend travel constipation medicine, such as a laxative or other product to take with you should you become constipated.

Either way, choose a product based on your healthcare provider's recommendation. It's a smart option when compared with limited or unfamiliar options in a strange or remote destination.