Life as an expat is almost always an adventure. In fact, that’s the primary reason that many people decide to live in a foreign country, to begin with. The thing to remember is that not all adventures are going to be fun and games. Some can be quite perilous.
You could find yourself in an uprising like the one currently happening in Kazakhstan. Or, you could find yourself suffering from an unforeseen illness. When you are from your home country, these types of events can be very confusing and complex.
You’ll need to prepare for things by having some health insurance like BCBS International for when you do get sick, but to also prevent getting ill, to begin with. In this article, we will go over how to stay healthy when living abroad so you don’t get sick.
1 – Get vaccinated
Besides the current outbreak of Covid-19 that is present all over the world, there are a whole host of other illnesses that you could be exposed to when living in a foreign country. This is especially true if you find yourself in the developing world.
It is a good idea to make sure that you are vaccinated against the common ailments that you may find yourself exposed to. In fact, some countries will require you to be vaccinated for many illnesses before they issue you a visa.
Make sure to find out what vaccines you have had in your life and see if you need any boosters. If the coronavirus is especially bad in the country that you will be living in, then make sure to get a vaccine and booster before going as the best ones may not be available in your host country.
2 – Don’t party too hard
It is very tempting to get the most out of your experience by burning the candles at both ends. It’s not easy turning down party invitations especially when you are trying to meet new people in the country that you moved to.
The key is to have plenty of fun and to be social but in moderation. You can end up burning yourself out and ending up with some serious health problems. There is the real possibility of developing an addiction, as well.
No matter what, there is a potentially bad outcome if you party too hard. Your immune system is guaranteed to be very weak at a minimum and this can lead to you getting sick. Your system is likely not used to some of the viruses that you could encounter abroad and having a weak immune system might have you fall victim to one of them.
3 – Stay active
One of the best ways to keep your immune system strong to ward off illnesses is to make sure that you are active and in good shape. This should mean biking wherever possible instead of driving. Or, walk to the store instead of taking public transportation. Many countries outside the US are set up in a way that walking and biking is sometimes the best way to get around.
Joining a gym or sports league is also a great way to stay in shape and should be part of your routine. Playing a sport has the added benefit of helping you meet locals and integrate into the local culture.
4 – Eat a balanced diet
What you eat is going to have a direct bearing on how healthy you stay while living abroad. A diet that is heavy on processed foods and sugars is going to weaken your immune system and will see an increase in doctor visits and possibly worse.
Instead, focus on eating as much fresh food as possible, learn to cook using whole foods and ingredients rather than eating takeaway or processed foods. You could take some cooking lessons to learn the local cuisine that will also serve to help you learn the culture while teaching you how to eat the healthy way when living abroad.
Also, try to manage your portions. You may live in a country with incredible cuisine and will be tempted to try everything. This is a recipe for overeating and will see you gaining weight. This can increase your chances of heart disease or diabetes.
5 – Drink lots of water
You should be drinking plenty of water no matter where you live. At least several glasses of water a day are recommended. In some countries, it is not advised to drink tap water as it can cause illnesses. In this case, make sure to follow boil water orders or invest in a good filtration system that will make your tap water safe so you can get plenty of hydration. Otherwise, look into buying bottled water and keeping a bottle with you wherever you go.