Pack These Top Travel Supplements For Healthy Vacationing

Summer is here and adventure is calling! Traveling can feel both exciting and stressful. Planning logistics of getting from point A to point B, packing the necessities, and selecting a destination itinerary… Well, it can make you ready for a vacation from the vacation! Let's review helpful wellness tips and friendly travel supplements to help you feel your best before, during and returning from your explorations.

While nutrients from healthy foods are the ideal choice, they are not always accessible in remote destinations. Many times local diets are limited in variety and familiarity. Thus, bringing a few supplements can make sure your body gets what it needs to maintain your state of health while traveling. Along the journey, there will inevitably be stressors to navigate. Including introductions to foreign bacterias and germs that our system may not recognize. Bringing the right supplements can help us balance the stress load and stop us from getting sick, so we can focus on enjoying a healthy vacation.

Superior Labs has high-quality supplements you can trust to support a variety of body functions. You may find additional supplements specific to supporting your body’s unique needs. For this article, we will review overall support for the body based on the most common complaints that come from traveling.

Before we list the supplements chosen to be your travel buddies, there are a few basic wellness tips we’d be remiss not to mention. We’ve all heard these daily needs a million times before, but they really are worth highlighting, especially while traveling.

• Hydration! Prioritizing hydration is essential, even more so when you are going to be flying. Airplanes circulate air at high altitudes which are void of humidity, this lack of moisture may cause you to feel dry.  Flying also changes blood viscosity which may accelerate dehydration.
• Pack an empty water bottle to fill after clearing security. Consider aiding absorption with celtic sea salt, hydration boost tablets or powders. Enjoying warm herbal teas is great for hydration, lessening the effects of jet lag and soothing any digestion troubles.
• You may also find comfort from using herbal lozenges, wearing glasses instead of contacts and packing a small bottle of lotion.
• Pack snacks, light and portable, choose colorful high quality nutrient dense foods. Airports are known for nutritionally poor foods and depending on the destination you may not agree with the local foods. Familiar snacks can be a gut-saver.
• Daily movement and loose clothing for travel days will help keep you mindful of self care and stress management benefits. Flights also shift fluid to the lower extremities so invite movement during your flight to keep the fluids circulating. Stretching the body throughout your trip also helps with posture, flexibility, blood flow to muscles and feelings of calm.

“Travel Buddy Supplements” for your carry on!
We recommend always packing your supplements and medications in your carry on, just in case there are any issues locating checked luggage. The following wellness supplements offer support for the realities of travel. They aim to maintain health, boost mood and assist the immune system.

• Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, which is incredibly effective as an overall stress remedy. This root helps to bring stress levels down and helps the body adapt better and become more resilient to stressful situations.
• B-Complex Vitamins, get your energy boost to get through those long flights and bounce back ready to dive into your itinerary. B vitamins are essential for nervous system function, energy production, bone health and supporting the immune system.
• Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, is vital for the body and maintaining a strong immune response. Vitamin C is not something we can make on our own so we must get it from colorful foods or supplements.
• Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, D3: A trio of minerals with a vitamin D boost! The combinations in this supplement supports many aspects of health. Including bone strength, mood, immunity, blood sugar regulation and sleep quality.
• Calcium, is a mineral that loves to maintain healthy bones and teeth so you can stay strong and smiley on your vacation.
• D3, the closest form of Vitamin D that our bodies make naturally when exposed to sunlight. It doesn’t matter if you’re headed to the sunny beaches or the clouded countryside. The majority of us are deficient in Vitamin D and can benefit from a supplement. Aiding the body with bone health, muscular function and reducing inflammation. It will both strengthen your immune system and keep your mood in check.
• Magnesium, an essential mineral, aids with energy metabolism, muscle relaxation and regulation of the nervous system. It helps keep a normal heart rhythm and regulate nerve impulses. It positively affects immune responses and acts as a protector in acute allergic reactions.
• Zinc, another mineral needed for immune function, metabolism and growth. It plays a part in wound healing, and is important for a proper sense of taste and smell.

Sleep trouble is a common complaint, especially when changing time zones.

• L-Tryptophan, promotes normal circadian rhythms and healthy sleep cycles. Known to be supportive of both falling and staying asleep. It’s an amino acid converted by the body into serotonin, an important neurotransmitter that supports brain function, improves circulation and reduces stress.  You’ll be enjoying restful sleep and relaxation as you settle into your first few nights away and again after you return home. Take your dose close to your ideal bedtime in the local time zone to help your body adjust to the new schedule with ease.
• Montmorency tart cherry, a “sleep aid fruit”, a natural source of melatonin.  It also contains GABA which helps increase brain activity and decrease anxiety levels. Montmorency tart cherry also balances levels of uric acid, and supports healthy joint mobility and muscle recovery to keep you ready to indulge and explore!

Digestive issues are another common complaint among travelers.

• Ginger and Peppermint are helpful for bad breath, nausea, bloating, constipation, gas and vomiting. The cabin of airplanes experience rapid pressure changes during take off and landing. This can cause stress on the inner ear, throwing off your equalization and feelings of balance.  Ginger can minimize nauseous feelings of motion sickness. The same pressure changes cause the gas inside your stomach and intestines to expand, so you may feel bloated.  Peppermint is also helpful for bloat, indigestion and heartburn.
• Our stomachs aren’t used to local foods while traveling and that can often leave us feeling sluggish. Probiotics, that don’t require refrigeration, will keep your gut flora in check. So don’t worry about the cravings your taste buds have you indulging in. The help of friendly bacterias, from a quality probiotic, will have you feeling more settled and keep your digestive tract functioning. Our gut flora directly connects to us being clear of mind, feeling energetic and having a strong immune system.

A key to enjoying your travels is to immerse yourself in nature. Give yourself time to absorb sunlight, witness dusk and dawn to help produce serotonin and regulate your circadian rhythm. Time in nature will lower your cortisol levels, lower blood pressure, and improve immunity naturally. Travel triggers your body’s stress response. But isn’t it a beautiful balance that getting into nature, wherever you travel, will help your body find balance. As a matter of fact, studies have shown that nature activates our natural killer cells which help boost our defense against viruses.

We’ve covered a handful of wellness tips and friendly travel supplements to support your healthy vacation. Choices to maximize your internal body feeling up to peak performance as you take in the external wonder of your surroundings. Enjoy nature and the adventures of your travels! Superior Labs is proud to be part of your carry-on packing list to support your health through your travels. Please reach out to our support team with any questions and clear any new supplements with your healthcare team.

This blog was written by Meg Ramirez, please click here to learn more about the author.