CHICAGO , Ill. , July 21, 2004 — ChicagoHealers.com offers nutrition tips and diet recommendations for frequent business and leisure travelers.

“Most people do not follow their diet plans while traveling,” says James Jordan, CNC, JD of ChicagoHealers.com. “This is understandable, considering people are often hurried and don’t have the time or access to a nearby health food store, but we wanted to offer consumers a few suggestions for heavy travel periods.”

Following are tips for travelers:

Snacks should ideally be a balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat . Just peanuts alone or just fruit alone can imbalance a person’s blood sugar and metabolism but protein foods like nuts or seeds combined with fruit is a perfect snack.

Nuts and seeds should be raw NOT roasted . Roasted nuts and seeds increase the LDL which is the “Bad” cholesterol, RAW nuts and seeds increase the HDL which is the “Good” Cholesterol. Recommendations include: almonds, walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, pine nuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds.

Dried fruit such as figs, dates and raisins combines well with nuts and seeds and does not have to be refrigerated. It is important to eat these fruits with some protein and fat to keep one’s blood sugar balanced.

Packaged Japanese soups in envelopes found in the oriental food section or health food and grocery stores ideal for traveling, including: white and red miso soup and wakame soup. These soups are very high in trace minerals which helps keep one alkalinized and energized during the stress of travel.

High quality organic and raw milk cheeses are a convenient protein and mineral rich food that combines well with avocado, nuts, seeds and fruit.

Bring a small cooler on the plane with some fresh foods for the trip and up to several days upon arrival. Depending on dining options at a destination, one may want to stock up on favorite healthy fresh foods that need refrigeration, including: vegetables, fruits, eggs and milk.

For a power shake mix the following ingredients in shaker cup with water: ground flaxseeds or flax seed oil (oil must be in a cooler or refrigerated), whey or rice protein powder, and barely green powder. Add a teaspoon of unheated, raw honey or a teaspoon of stevia powder and you have a perfectly macronutrient balanced power drink full of protein, nutrient dense green foods, and omega 3 essential fatty acids.

Another source of protein is dried naturally raised beef and bison jerky from health food stores. These provide the 30-40 grams of protein needed per snack to feel balanced and energized. Combine this healthy meat meal with some celery sticks or pre-bagged salad greens and enjoy a protein and fiber rich snack.

Hydration is crucial while traveling by plane. Bring plenty of healthy mineral rich water to offset the acidity generated from stress and eating a diet higher in sugar and caffeine.

Always bring some fresh citrus, apples, cucumbers or celery on your trip to get needed fiber and extra water.