Staying Healthy While Training in Morocco

Train Hard, Stay Healthy

A stomach bug or dehydration can derail your training trip. Follow these guidelines to stay on the mats.

Food Safety

Safe choices:

• Cooked foods served hot
• Fruits you can peel yourself
• Bottled water (check the seal)
• Restaurant tagines and grilled meats
• Fresh bread from bakeries

Approach with caution:

• Tap water (use bottled for drinking and brushing teeth)
• Raw salads in budget restaurants
• Street food (choose busy vendors with high turnover)
• Ice in drinks
• Cut fruit from street vendors

Hydration

Morocco is hotter and drier than you expect:

• Drink 3-4 liters daily when training
• Add electrolytes, especially in summer
• Avoid excessive caffeine
• Moroccan mint tea is hydrating (despite caffeine)
• Watch for signs of dehydration: dark urine, headaches

Common Issues

Traveler's diarrhea:

• Usually passes in 24-48 hours
• Stay hydrated with oral rehydration salts
• Imodium for symptom relief
• See a doctor if fever or blood present

Skin infections:

• Shower immediately after training
• Don't share towels or rashguards
• Check for ringworm, staph symptoms daily
• Bring antifungal cream from home

Heat exhaustion:

• Train during cooler hours (morning, evening)
• Take breaks, don't push through dizziness
• Seek air conditioning if overheating

Medical Kit

Pack:

• Antidiarrheal medication
• Oral rehydration salts
• Antifungal cream
• Antiseptic wipes
• Athletic tape
• Pain relievers
• Any personal medications (in original packaging)

Finding Medical Care

• Pharmacies are abundant and pharmacists can advise
• Private clinics offer faster service than public hospitals
• Travel insurance is essential - keep documents accessible
• Major cities have English/French-speaking doctors