There are some health issues that many of us deal with frequently, but would not necessarily want to speak of in polite society – or even chat about with our closest friends. This can sometimes lead to not receiving helpful tips and information that might dispel the issue, resulting in some people suffering in silence. One of these issues is digestive health and, in particular, regularity.

Most people don’t necessarily like to discuss their bowel movements or daily fiber intake, but when regularity becomes an issue it can have a significant impact on your level of activity, overall wellness and enjoyment of life. When traveling, it can mean missing out on family activities or, at the very least, taking much of the joy out of them. While it is hugely beneficial to have a private bathroom just steps away from you at all times when digestive issues occur on the road, it would be even nicer if you could simply avoid regularity issues altogether. Whether your trips to the restroom are too frequent, not frequent enough, difficult or loose, there are simple lifestyle and dietary changes you can make to ease your discomfort and get your digestive health back on track.

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When most of us think of exercise equipment, we think of treadmills, elliptical trainers, rowing machines, home gyms and exercise bikes; however, most of do not have room to take these cumbersome exercise equipment options with us when on the road. Fortunately, you do not need full-size gym equipment to stay fit and healthy while traveling, and there are plenty of small, portable options that can assist you in getting a great workout without taking up floor space or filling your RVs cupboards when not in use.

There are many exercise options that are readily accessible on the road and require no equipment at all, such as hiking, biking, walking and swimming. But, there might be times or circumstances that call for exercising indoors, such as rainy days, overly hot days or a current health status that limits your mobility. For those times, it is much more convenient to have readily available workout options that are easy to use inside your RV and easy to stow away when not in use.

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Every RV should have a first aid kit with bandages, antiseptic wound cleansers and other essentials you might need when you are miles away from a store or pharmacy. Picking up a small first aid kit specifically designed for travel is a great start, but you should also consider putting together your own all-natural first aid kit with everything you need for sunburns, insect bites, minor scrapes and burns, bruises and sprains, diarrhea, nausea, sore muscles and all of the other common, annoying ailments that can come up while on the road.

Here are 10 must-have items for your natural travel first aid kit:

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There are several reasons why you might want to incorporate plants into your RV’s décor, including creating a homey environment, cleaning the air of pollutants or simply indulging in your love of greenery. However, special care must be taken when selecting plants for your RV; not just any plant will thrive in that particular environment.

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One of the many benefits of an RV lifestyle is being able to enjoy the comforts of home while on the road. An easy way to create a cozy, homey atmosphere while on the road is the use of candles, whether for a romantic candlelit dinner for two, morning meditation, reading by candlelight at the end of the day or simply allowing the warm glow to add to the ambiance. Scented candles, in particular, are a great way to introduce a welcoming aroma to your home away from home.
Candles – and scented candles in particular – have become increasingly popular over the years, with the National Candle Association reporting 7 of 10 U.S. households using candles in their home and candle sales soaring to an estimated $2 billion each year. What many of those enjoying the warm glow of candles do not realize is that burning conventional candles in low ventilation areas poses potentially serious health risks. This should be of particular concern to those of us burning candles in particularly small, closed areas, such as RVs.
Conventional candles that are made from paraffin wax, artificial dyes and chemical perfumes release a variety of pollutants into the air while burning, including cancer-causing carcinogenic toxins. When burning one of these candles in your RV, you could be introducing lead, acetone, benzene and other harmful substances into the air. Additionally, while most companies seem to be working towards making their products healthier, many candle companies are actually creating candles with even more soot than previous versions, according to the U.S. Consumer Public Safety Commission. Soot is of particular concern and is comprised of microscopic particles that aggravate respiratory ailments.

This does not mean that you should not enjoy the look and aroma of candles in your RV, but it does mean that you should read labels and make the best choices possible when purchasing candles. Here are five things to look for when candle shopping:

1. Stay away from wicks with metal wire cores and opt for cotton, wood or paper wicks instead.

2. Unscented candles release less soot, so consider unscented candles if you want the glow of a candle flame, but are not concerned about scent.

3. When purchasing scented candles, avoid candles scented with perfumes or fragrance oils. Look for candles that are scented with essential oils instead.

4. Candles made from soy wax are a much healthier option and are now widely available.

5. Avoid candles that come in ceramic or glass jars.

Of course, you can also completely avoid issues that arise from burning candles by purchasing flameless candles or scented wax bars that can be melted without a flame. Flameless candles run on batteries and the light is typically generated from LED bulbs.
Scented wax bars, like those available from Scentsy, have no wicks and require no flame, eliminating smoke, soot and lead. Each of these is a healthier alternative to conventional candles and also eliminates the fire hazard of burning candles in your RV. Flameless candles can be purchased online or in most home stores.
Scentsy scented wax bars, ceramic warmers and other products are available at www.dreboag.scentsy.us.

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According to the American Heart Association, a majority of people in the United States consume far more salt than their bodies need – more than 12 times as much.  Most of us grew up salting almost everything on our plates, unfortunately, long before we knew the consequences.  The salt habit is hard to shake, but here’s a few ways to cut back on the salt and still enjoy the flavors without feeling deprived.

1.     If you are buying any prepackaged foods, look for those low in sodium.

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Fast-food joints call out to us just like gas stations do.  When you still have a ways to go to your next stop, the temptations are enormous to fill up on junk food while you can. But with some planning, the whole family can refuel with some healthy ready-to-go snacks.  Bananas, oranges and apples are satisfying, don't have to be refrigerated, and come wrapped in their own peel or skin.  They make a smart choice for anyone.


Or create your own snack mixes at home and hand them out during the day. You may want to mix them up a bit.  A breakfast snack of dry granola makes a good breakfast snack.  In the afternoon, a trail mix of almonds, peanuts and dried fruit is nutritious and filling.  Popcorn makes a great evening snack.  Just pop up a batch before you leave on your journey.

Convenience stores along the way are easy to maneuver when you realize that all the junk is in the front and center of the store, so finding the good stuff can be a little challenging.  Pretzels or other baked crunchies like rice or soy crackers are a much smarter choice than snacks fried in oils.  If you look hard enough, there is always a wide variety of proteins in the way of peanuts, sesame seeds, almonds, cashews, and/or dried beans that can make you feel satisfied.  It’s always best to look at the nutritional facts on the package to make sure there are no trans fats, refined sugars or any oils that are hydrogenated.

Of course, meals that you prepare yourself for your trip are always going to be the best, especially if they are eaten in the Great Outdoors.  There’s something about the fresh air that makes food taste better, too.  Let’s treat our bodies gently while on the roads so we can enjoy peace of mind and good health while we escape the routine of our everyday lives. 

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One of the many benefits of enjoying an RV lifestyle is the convenience of bringing your kitchen with you everywhere you go. Whether you are in Alabama or Alaska, you can make your favorite dishes, save money on meals by cooking in your RV and ensure that you have the foods that you simply cannot live without with you at all times. Additionally, having the ability to cook in your own well-equipped kitchen, makes eating healthy while on the road much easier and more convenient.

Whether you love to cook or just go through the motions in order to avoid eating cereal at every meal, herbs are an essential part of the process that make foods more enjoyable and can even make each meal more nutritious. Cooking with herbs and spices is also a great way to add flavor to your meals without the need for using salt as a seasoning, which is ideal for anyone limiting their sodium intake, as well as for anyone managing high blood pressure, watching their weight or avoiding excessive salt use due to other health concerns.

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Travel days are not always the part of the trip everyone looks forward to the most, but they certainly have their own enjoyable features that we can all agree on, such as opportunities to stop at fun roadside attractions, gazing in awe at the beautiful scenery passing by your window and, of course, the anticipation of arriving at your destination. The darker side of travel days is long hours of sitting, which can very easily lead to poor circulation. Poor circulation, in turn, can lead to a number of health conditions, including blood clots, less efficient transportation of nutrients through the body, less efficient elimination of toxins, and decreased heart, liver, kidney and immune system function.

As if those health issues were not reason enough to be concerned about proper circulation, you should also be aware that poor circulation causes your organs and tissues to receive inadequate amounts of oxygen and can lead to heart disease, as well as other major health issues.

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When it comes to treating high blood pressure through your diet, there are some things you should add, as well as some that you should avoid. Most of us know that we should limit our salt intake and maintain a healthy diet overall, but we don’t often hear about the variety of herbs, spices, vitamins and minerals that can also make a significant difference.

Herbs and spices that have been used to treat high blood pressure for many generations include dandelion, motherwort, chamomile, saffron, fennel, ginger, yarrow, cat’s claw, linden, parsley, kudzu, hawthorn, valerian, marjoram, sage, nutmeg, thyme, tarragon, curry, cloves, basil, fennel, dill, oregano, cayenne, cinnamon and chili powder.

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