A functional medicine physician weighs in on simple things you can do to avoid getting sick.

Why do so many people get sick when they travel? "When traveling, people commonly get sick due to exposure to pathogens -- germs -- in close quarters, like planes or public transportation," says Dr. Lauren Davis, a functional medicine physician and the founder of Latched Nourished Thriving. "This includes the viruses that cause cold and flu symptoms and bacteria that can cause traveler's diarrhea." She explains that when we travel, the combination of increased stress from the changes in our routine, the decline in sleep with early morning flights, dry air in airplane cabins, and the exposure to new and different pathogens is what make our systems vulnerable. "Don't stress, because we can help reduce our chance of illness by addressing key factors and getting the nutrients our immune system needs to keep us healthy while we travel."

As a functional medicine physician, Dr. Davis is frequently asked how to stay healthy when traveling -- especially with children, who often have developing immune systems that make them more vulnerable. "Traveling with children adds an extra layer of complexity, but it's entirely possible to enjoy your trip without compromising your family's health," she says. Below are her tips.