Why is my digestion bad when I travel?

Why is my digestion SO bad when I travel? Ugh, don’t even get me started. Travel and my stomach? It’s a total disaster, like a Shakespearean tragedy unfolding in my intestines. Seriously, my whole system rebels. Remember that trip to Mexico? Beautiful beaches, amazing tacos…and then three days of pure, unadulterated misery. I’m pretty sure I spent more time in the bathroom than sightseeing.

It’s probably a mix of things, right? The food, obviously. I mean, who knows what’s in that street food, even if it looks amazing? Germs are a real thing, aren’t they? And it’s not just the food; it’s the change in water too. I learned the hard way about that, sipping tap water in some places I should have been more careful. You think you’re being cautious, but sometimes…you’re not.

Plus, there’s the stress. Packing, navigating airports, worrying about flights… it all adds up. And the sleep? Forget about it. Jet lag is a real killer, and when your sleep is messed up, your whole body feels messed up, including your poor, abused gut. That time I was in London, I was so stressed about connecting flights I ended up having a minor panic attack in a rather inconveniently located restroom. Honestly, stress alone is enough to make you feel sick, especially when you’re in a strange environment. So it’s not surprising my digestion acts like a drama queen.

I swear, sometimes I wish I could just pack a healthy gut microbiome in my suitcase, like an extra pair of socks. But alas, that’s not a thing (yet!). Maybe one day there’ll be a pill for this? Or a probiotic that can withstand the rigors of airport security. One can dream, right?