Vacation Constipation 5 Reasons Why You May Get Constipated on Vacation

Vacation Constipation, I bet that title got your attention. Either you have suffered from this condition yourself, or you have heard about your fellow travelers having a lack of bathroom success on one too many occasions.

The thing is, vacation constipation is real. And when it gets bad, it can hinder your holiday. In this article, I am breaking down vacation constipation.

1. Change in Routine. Your body is accustomed to following a certain rhythm, including waking up, eating, and sleeping at certain times every day. Traveling to a new location, especially with a different time zone, affects the time you eat, sleep, and are active. All of this will impact your body’s natural rhythm.

   
   
   When your schedule becomes irregular, your bowel movements can also become irregular.

2. Decrease in Fiber. It is recommended that adults consume 25 - 35 grams of fiber per day, which is a challenge for most people to eat, even when they are not on vacation.

   
   
   Accessing fiber-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can become more of a challenge when traveling. A few days of not taking in enough fiber can cause some serious plumbing problems in the GI system.

3. Bathroom Stress. There is no way around it. Using the bathroom when you are traveling is a stressful event. First of all, you need to find a bathroom. Then you are hoping it’s clean and that other people aren’t around “doing their thing.” Add in the sounds and smells one experiences in a public restroom, on top of personal life stress. Then you are supposed to “relax” to keep things moving.

   
   
   Let’s just say, bathroom stress can really stop you up.

4. Inadequate Water Intake. Water is essential for helping to keep things “moving” through your gastrointestinal tract. However, many people report a significant decrease in water intake during travel time.

   
   
   Whether it is because of accessibility, time, or not wanting to have to use the public restrooms, being dehydrated will certainly increase your chances of struggling with vacation constipation.

5. Stress and Anxiety. Bathroom stress was already addressed, but let’s not forget how the stressors of life will impact your “system.” Between fears and anxieties associated with flying or just the hassle of travel, your body is under stress.

   
   
   Stress and anxiety are major contributors to constipation.

I hope this article helped to shed some light on what causes Vacation Constipation, follow these tips to help keep things moving! Next week I’ll share “10 Travel Friendly Foods to Prevent Vacation Constipation“, stay tuned!