Frequent Flyer

Top 10

New! April 29, 2004

Healthy Products for Travelers

by Lisa Iannucci

Trying to stay healthy while traveling isn’t always easy. You’re susceptible to dry skin, stress, muscle tension, infections and insect bites. It’s hard to fit in a good workout and travelers often forgo eating right to indulge in rich and high-caloric fare. As a health and travel writer, new products cross my desk all the time and I’m always on the lookout for products to make your travel life easier and healthier. Here are 10 new products that you may want to consider tossing into your suitcase or carry-on for your next trip.

Reflexotherapy Applicator - Waiting in long lines at the airport, sitting for extended periods on the plane, and sleeping in unfamiliar, and probably uncomfortable, hotel beds can lead to muscle tension, a common but unwanted side effect to travel. Ease the pain by trying this “looks odd, but works” Reflexotherapy Applicator. Founder Irene Tamaras created her company Dynamic Pain Relief (www.dynamicpainrelief.com), a provider of alternative self-help treatments and products, after suffering a severe back injury and chronic back pain 12 years ago. If you’re not familiar with acupuncture or reflexology, the product’s prickly points may intimidate you. I love massages, but can’t always have one while I’m traveling, so I was anxious to try a product that I can roll up and fit in my suitcase. I tried this unique device on my upper back and I did feel less tense afterward. Tamaras claims the product ($79.95) can help insomnia, headaches, migraines and neck pain.
www.PersonalMD.com: This site takes time to set up, but it’s definitely worth it. What if something were to happen to you while you’re traveling? Would the doctors know your allergies, past history or medications that you were taking? Now you can give them a card that says www.PersonalMD.com and medical personnel will have instant Internet access to your medical history. Individuals can store medical records, immunization records and important legal documents like wills and health proxies. Need a reminder to take your meds? ReminderRx is a service of PersonalMD.com that reminds subscribers to take meds, attend appointments, etc. The reminder can be sent to your pager, cell phone, PDA and e-mail; a great service when you are traveling through time changes.
Healthy Highways: The Travelers’ Guide to Healthy Eating (March 2004, Ceres Press, $18.95) - Written by Nikki & David Goldbeck, these food gurus show readers how to avoid fast-food pitfalls while traveling and make informed choices about where to eat, restock coolers, or pick up a healthy snack. State maps and local directions guide you to 1,900 healthy eateries and natural food stores throughout the United States, plus travel tips, dining advice and other useful resources. You can find the book and other information on healthy eating at their companion Web site, www.healthyhighways.com.
Magellan’s: Magellan’s is a leading supplier, and one-stop shop, for travel products, including health-related goods, such as first aid, clothing care, jet-lag prevention, toiletries and toilet kits. You can order online at www.magellans.com or request a free catalog by calling 800-962-4943 or 805-568-5400 (International).
Buzz Off: That’s exactly what you can tell the tics, ants, mosquitoes and other creepy-crawlies when you wear Ex Officio’s Buzz Off insect-repellent travel apparel. Forget spraying your skin; Buzz Off insect-repellent apparel uses Permethrin, a man-made version of a centuries-old natural insect repellent to guard against bugs. The apparel is odorless and colorless but a bit pricey; however, worth it for those who are traveling to highly infested areas. Price samples include: Hat, $28; convertible pant, $79; socks, $18; long-sleeve shirt, $79.
SaniPhone: Although most of us carry cell phones, there still may come a time when you need to use a pay phone, but just the thought of how many mouths have touched that receiver can make your stomach turn. SaniPhone completely covers any telephone receiver, creating a protective barrier that’s also good for pumping gas and holding workout gym equipment. Fit your hand inside the SaniPhone, grasp the receiver with your protected hand, fold the SaniPhone over the receiver, and now the phone is wrapped inside the SaniPhone. Although the box recommends tucking it back into your purse or pocket when done, dispose of it immediately instead. Available at www.saniphoneguard.com; five per box for a single usage each, $3.59. Distributed by THJD, Inc., 2811 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 510, Santa Monica, California, 90403.
Body To Go: Want to work out in the privacy of your hotel room? Body To Go is a DVD workout program that includes five workouts on one DVD. Created by Jessica York, host of “Outdoor Update” on CNN Headline News and the Weather Channel, just put it in your laptop or portable DVD player and work your body through 40 minutes of a heart-pumping cardio routine, 12-minute upper and lower body routines, 12 minutes of core conditioning, and a 10-minute stretch. The $34.95 program doesn’t require any exercise equipment and can be ordered by going to www.bodytogo.tv.
Zicam Cold Remedy Products: For many of us, it’s Murphy’s Law...plan a trip, get a cold. Flying with a cold can be downright painful, but not everyone wants to load up on medications that can make you drowsy. Zicam Cold Remedy products are over-the-counter homeopathic products that reduce the duration of cold symptoms without tiring you out. Since colds take a week or more and travelers can’t afford to be sick for that long, Zicam can help. Choose from a nasal gel pump, nasal gel swabs, chewable, rapid melt or oral mist. You can also find more information at www.zicam.com.
Great Sources for Dry Skin: Traveling dries out skin so no traveler should be without a good moisturizer. What makes these hand creams different, however, is the feeling of a spa treatment. The One-Minute Manicure Travel Pack by Mykytyn Enterprises gently exfoliates your skin and nourishes and conditions cuticles and nail beds. Available in four distinct fragrances: classic containing spearmint and peppermint; sunrise containing orange, tangerine and ginger, sunset containing florals, rose petals and chamomile; and Silk Spa (www.silkspa.com) containing ginger citrus. Shake the packet to mix the salts and oil, tear open, and pour contents into your hand. Massage, rinse, pat dry, and continue to massage. Products are also available individually. Available through salons and spas, on the Web site (www.oneminutemanicure.com) or by calling 866-663-6468.
Just the Basics: PEL Basics created a line of skin-care products that use dromais oil, including a lip balm and protective sunscreen. The sun crème ($11.95) contains natural raw ingredients, such as zinc oxide (which blocks both UVB and UVA rays), as well as shea butter, olive oil, vitamins C and E, green tea, chamomile and vanilla flower. The lip balm is great for chapped lips as well as sun protection ($1.95). To order, visit www.pelbasics.com.

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