How to manage travel constipation while traveling in Japan

Traveling overseas is full of joy and excitement. On the other hand, you may be one of those people suffering from irregular bowel movements. Vacation constipation originates from multiple factors. However, the discomfort will be manageable if you know how to cope with it.

Why does travel constipation occur?

Several reasons intertwine to cause tummy trouble. It happens because of sudden and extreme changes compared to your home life, such as diet, exercise, jet lag, regular bathroom access and the list goes on. All these changes surprise your gut and, even worse, put on extra stress. At the end, they weaken your digestive system and interrupt your regular bowel frequency.

3 practical tips to ease constipation when traveling in Japan

As you experience stomach discomfort in Japan, the following things would be helpful to get things moving:

Carbon dioxide spring

Your body exposes stress unknowingly for the sake of excessive changes, as stated above, on vacation. Travel is one occasion to raise sympathetic nerves substantially due to a sense of excitement and anxiety about unknown environments.

Carbon dioxide springs could address your problem. The bath has an effect on expanding blood vessels and promoting parasympathetic nerves, thus fostering relaxation. If you can not find the hot springs nearby, do not worry. You can make and take a bath in the bathtub of your room by purchasing baking soda and citric acid. For instance, you need 300 grams of each powder if you fill the bath with 200L. Considering the safety, using baking soda and citric acid for cooking is recommended for the purpose.

Taking a stroll in the morning

Sleep and wake-up patterns impact your circadian rhythm, which correlates with your regular bowel movements tremendously. Given that, living with an internal clock is pivotal to getting away from travel constipation. Sunbathing is a simple but powerful method for our inner systems. Forest bathing is also effective if nature is accessible to you in your area. It gives you opportunities to stay in a healthy routine but also increases a sense of relaxation.

Opt for gut-moving food and drink

Experimenting with new foods is undoubtedly one of the primary activities to do on vacation. Ironically, what you eat may lack nutrients to support the digestive system and facilitate you to poop. Increasing intake of fiber, probiotics and oligosaccharides as nutrients and fluids are essential to cope with travel-related tummy trouble. The items listed below can rescue you from the problem. The great news is that all items can be found in convenience stores or supermarkets. Please note that consuming fiber with drinks helps prevent further constipation or gas.

• Natto: Legumes are generally bountiful in fiber. Along with it, natto is packed with probiotics; hence, it would be effective for your stagnated bowel movement.
• Seaweed: Seaweed is another fiber-rich food. Seaweed works to make more bifidobacterium in the stomach by consuming it. Wakame stem would be a gut-supportive snack.
• Soymilk: The plant-based milk contains oligosaccharides, feeding bifidobacterium in the gut. The bacteria are important for a healthy intestinal environment.
• Fermented rice drink (known as Amazake): The traditional Japanese drink is rich in fiber and oligosaccharides, making it effective in addressing digestive issues.

Travel constipation is not uncommon, and it seems that you need to be patient while traveling. However, this is not necessarily true. The trouble on a trip is manageable if you can practice simple actions like those introduced above. Don’t give up, and feel great on your next adventure.