| > | | | | Soak raw foods. |
| Learn tips from seasoned Southeast Asia | | | | Raw fruits and vegetables should be soaked in a |
| travelers on how to stay healthy and eat well. | | | | solution of iodine and water and then washed with |
| You and your family just arrived in Southeast | | | | drinking water. This would be things like |
| Asia after a long international trip. A different | | | | tomatoes, cucumbers and star fruit. If you are |
| world of smells and sounds and sights overwhelm | | | | going to eat a food raw after you have skinned |
| you. The food smells different and bugs are | | | | it, still wash it in drinking water first. This would |
| everywhere. But don't worry. You can still eat | | | | be foods like carrots, papaya and mangoes. |
| well and retain your digestive health. In fact, | | | | Cook all green, leafy vegetables |
| considering the amount of antacids American's | | | | No amount of soaking greens can assure killing |
| swallow each year, you might be able to improve | | | | enough nasty bacteria. The good news is that |
| it. | | | | briefly cooking greens actually makes the |
| Here are tips to eating well and staying healthy in | | | | nutrients more available to you anyway. Wash |
| Southeast Asia. For more medical and nutrition | | | | and steam just until wilted or make a stir fry. |
| advice click here. | | | | The secret to a good stir fry is to put the harder |
| Indulge your passion for local fruits. | | | | vegetables in first and the greens or bok choy in |
| Most of the edible fruits native to Southeast Asia | | | | at the end. Add a drop or two of sesame oil. |
| also promote digestive health. Papayas and | | | | Cook until greens are just wilted. |
| mangoes are especially good for the digestive | | | | Shop at the market often. |
| track. Chilled papaya drizzled with fresh squeezed | | | | The Southeast Asian custom of buying food |
| lime juice is delicious for breakfast. | | | | every day is a healthy one. Often we use the |
| Also, mandarin oranges are good even if they're | | | | excuse that we are too busy to shop every day. |
| small. Larger oranges may not look orange at | | | | It is still a good idea to go at least every two or |
| all, their skin can be quite green. But this does not | | | | three days. Food is most nutritious — and |
| mean they are not ripe. They are. Ask your shop | | | | delicious -- when it is ripe and fresh. |
| keeper or market vendor to open one up for | | | | Purchase international travel insurance in case you |
| you so you can taste it. | | | | do get sick. |
| You've never tasted bananas and pineapple until | | | | Let's say you do all of the above, yet still get sick |
| you've eaten them fresh in Southeast Asia. The | | | | with a stomach bug or food poisoning. Get |
| apples are tart but can be baked with a bit of | | | | medical help right then and there. There are |
| cinnamon. Star fruit is a delicious substitute for | | | | several travel insurance plans that will continue |
| apples. Don't be afraid of coconut -- the meat, | | | | home country coverage for up to six months |
| oil or milk. It really is good for you, and delicious | | | | from the time of your initial medical treatment |
| in drinks and icecream. | | | | overseas. This is a good deal, and these plans |
| Some local fruits like durian take a long time to | | | | are inexpensive. |
| acquire a taste for, but they are easily avoided. | | | | Above all, have fun with your food, buy overseas |
| The good news is that you won't have to deal | | | | travel insurance, and try new things once in a |
| with the wax added to many fruits in America. | | | | while. |