While we all enjoy trekking for the boost and the delightful transition that it provides us from our mundane lives to feeling that adrenaline rush, we must always stay in check with our health before, after, and during the trek as it is one of the most key factor which can either make our trekking experience a memorable pursuit or could turn it into a bit of a nightmare. There are certain ways to ensure that you have a great adventure while staying healthy throughout the trek. Therefore, we have listed out certain trekking tips & tricks to stay healthy while doing this adventure.
Start training for the trek beforehand
It is extremely essential that you start training your body a few weeks before you get started on your journey. That helps in increasing the stamina to climb the lofty mountains with comparatively lesser strain. Training also prepares you mentally for the kind of efforts that will be required from you during the trek. If the trek that you’ve chosen is an easy or moderate one, then only a little bit of training will do but if you have your eyes on some major treks then it is wise that you train your body accordingly.
Stay hydrated
This is the most common and the most important tip for staying healthy during a trek, but it is either often ignored or forgotten. Water plays a very crucial part during treks as dehydration may cause various health issues, like dizziness, on the mountains. While drinking water, one must focus on drinking it at regular intervals as drinking a large amount of water in one go and then not drinking any at all for a very long time may also lead to dehydration. So, try drinking water or consuming other kinds of fluids (alcohol excluded) to stay hydrated during your journey.
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Get acclimatized
Acclimatization refers to the body’s adjusting or adopting the new climate. When you move from plains and reach the base of your trek, it is crucial that you let your body acclimatize to the new climate it has been transferred to. With the increasing altitude, the risk of suffering from acute mountain sickness (AMS) also increase. A lack of acclimatization might result in lack of oxygen intake by body, acute headaches, nausea, disturbed sleep, and much more. As every other body take its own time to adapt to the mountains, it is advisable to not to be competitive and wait until your body is acclimatized before stating your trek.
Fuel your body with enough carbs
Providing your body with the required amount of nutrition always pays off. So, even when you are on the mountains, wanting to conquer them all, it is necessary to pay attention to what you eat. The body requires a lot of energy to continue on the steep climbs and follow the strenuous trails. The best way to fuel your body is by stocking up on carbs as they are a great source of energy and can recharge the body for a longer span of time. Eating a wholesome breakfast and carbohydrate rich food for lunch and dinner will take care of your energy requirements during the trek.
Avoid junk food and munch on chocolates and nuts
It is always advised against consuming any sort of junk food while on a trek as it doesn’t provide any nutrition to the body. But, sometimes when you crave for something tastier, you can always rely on chocolates and nuts as they are the healthier alternatives to other junk food items. Chocolates are a great source of instant energy and hence are a favoured food item during treks. Other than the chocolates, nuts are one of the best things to munch on while climbing your way through the mountains as they are another great source of nutrients and energy.
Don’t take the weather lightly
As health is a priority during the treks, it is wise if you consider the weather conditions of your trekking destination before commencing on the journey. Sometimes, weather on the mountains changes so abruptly that even the predictions and all the weather reports become entirely worthless. Hence, it is very important that you are prepared for any kind of weather during the trek. Taking the weather lightly might bring in some ugly experiences for you and therefore spoil your journey.
Avoid sunburns
Even on the mountains where the atmosphere is breezy and cool, the sun might not be kind enough to spare you from its harsh effects. What’s more misleading is that you don’t even feel the sunlight harming your skin and carry on the trek opining that sunburns are a myth when you are amidst the mountains. This is an entirely wrong assumption as even when it’s cloudy or even when you don’t feel the warmth of the sun to an alarming level, sunlight can cause sunburns and skin irritation. Therefore, it is wise to cover as much of your skin as you can and apply proper sunscreens and lotions to avoid sunburns.
Sleep adequately
Lastly, it is very important that you take proper sleep. It is essential that you give your body enough time to relax and recover in order to stay healthy throughout the trek. Sleeping for about 5-6 hours helps the body calm down and get rid of the strain and tiredness caused by the trek. It also re-energizes the mind for the following day and when the fatigue is gone, one can start the day with a clearer vision and more positive attitude as a lack of sleep might result in headaches, memory loss, and erratic behavioural patterns. Therefore, sleeping properly is one the important things which help comprise a healthy trek.
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