HAPPY TUMMY, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

HOW TO AVOID 'GRUMPY GUT' AND 'GUT LAG' WHILE TRAVELLING

- LUCY ROBINSON

Putting on the "out of office" and hauling out the suitcase are signs of relaxation to come. But for some, it's a cue for digestive complications to kick in. From adopting a more leisurely routine to navigating different time zones, these changes can play havoc on our bodies and bathroom habits.

"Changes in routine, diet and sleep-wake cycles, and sitting still during long flights, are just some of the triggers for gut imbalance when you're travelling," explains nutritionist Sonal Shah, from Nutritionist Resource. "That can result in common digestive complaints such as constipation, diarrhoea and IBS-type symptoms. But who it affects really depends on your current state of gut health."

Here are five tips for keeping your digestion in tip-top working order, from the minute you start packing to the moment you're lazing in the sun on that lounger...

1 GO GINGER

Used in alternative medicine for thousands of years, the spicy root has the potential to become a traveller's BF. "Ginger is my favourite remedy," says Sonal. "It aids circulation, which is ideal on long flights. It also works as a warming spice and can settle an upset gut, ease travel sickness and reduce internal inflammation." Add fresh ginger to your meals or to your cup of tea, or have it in capsule form.

2 TAKE SUPER-STRENGTH PROBIOTICS