Going on holiday shouldn’t mean taking a break from your wellbeing. That’s why taking travel supplements while you’re OOO can help keep your body in check from the inside out.
From gut-balancing capsules to help you explore local cuisines with confidence, to jet lag-battling elixirs to ensure you hit the ground running when you arrive, there’s a travel supplement for every need while you are on your holidays.
We tried-and-tested the very best formulas for your immune system, digestion, sleep and skin to help you know exactly what to pack in your carry-on. These are the best travel supplements to help you be your healthiest self even when away from home.
For jet lag
It’s unfortunately really common to find yourself a bit of a zombie at the beginning of your holiday, especially if you’ve been travelling long-haul over multiple time zones. Or perhaps you always struggle to sleep well on the first day in an unfamiliar hotel room too? We’ve spoken to multiple women about their easy-to-achieve jet lag solutions, and have also trialled many sleep supplements to identify the very best. Best of all, we’ve found the formulas that will ease you into a deep sleep, and help you wake up with energy in the morning – no grogginess required.
The sleep supplement ingredients to look for:
Melatonin: A hormone that regulates your sleep-wake cycle. Supplementing with melatonin can help reset your internal clock, helping you quickly adjust to new time zones.
Magnesium: Supports relaxation to improve sleep quality. Look for magnesium glycerinate or citrate on the packaging for the best absorption.
L-Theanine: Promotes relaxation without grogginess and has the additional benefit of helping relieve feelings of travel-related stress.
For strong stomachs
We can all have the tendency to overindulge a little on holiday (with both rich foods and alcohol), as well as getting the amazing opportunity to try new local cuisines. However, both can increase your risk of an upset stomach and other digestive issues such as bloating, which hardly makes you feel the most confident in your holiday outfits and bikinis. Taking gut supplements can help by supporting a healthy gut microbiome, and even keeping really bad hangovers at bay. Here are some of our favourites:
The gut supplement ingredients to look for:
Prebiotics: Our wellness director never travels without prebiotics, such as inulin, to avoid a sensitive stomach. These work as food for your ‘good’ gut bacteria, playing a critical role in supporting a healthy gut microbiome.
Probiotics: Probiotics sound similar to prebiotics, but they are actually live good bacteria that help balance your gut and improve digestion (rather than just the food). Look for ones such as Lactobacillus.
For immunity
An unfortunate side effect of starting to relax on your holidays can be getting struck down by a cold or other illnesses, as your body finally unwinds after long periods of stress and busyness. That risk is made even worse when travelling by plane, when recycled air and close quarters means sicknesses quickly spread. So, as well as doing your normal hygiene routines when travelling (hand sanitiser is a CF essential for when on-the-go), keep your immune system operating at its best, with key supplements. We have a full guide to immunity boosters, but here are some highlights:
The immune-boosting supplement ingredients to look for:
Vitamin C: Plays a vital role in the production of antibodies that fight infection, supporting your immune system. That keeps illnesses, especially things like colds, at bay and makes your symptoms milder if they do strike.
Vitamin D: Enhances your immune system’s ability to respond to pathogens, while also helping boost your mood (so there’s multiple benefits). It’s a great supplement to take during winter when vitamin D deficiency is common.
Zinc: A crucial mineral for immune cell (and brain) function, zinc is an essential nutrient that can interfere with illnesses’ ability to replicate in your body and speeds up your recovery from sickness too.
For looking and feeling good
It’s not just your internal health that can struggle a little when on-the-go. Frequent travel can also have an effect on your skin, hair and nails. Flying and the sunshine can quickly dehydrate your complexion, leaving your skin looking dull and tired; while holiday fun, such as chlorine-rich swimming pools, the salty sea and rough sand can leave your hair and nails all feeling a bit lacklustre. That’s why we recommend bringing your beauty supplements with you on your holiday, including some of our top picks.
The beauty supplement ingredients to look for:
Collagen: Collagen is an essential protein for skin, hair and bone health, but by the time we get to 40, we have lost around a third of our natural collagen. Look for bovine or marine collagen sources to get the most bang for your buck.
Biotin: A type of vitamin B that supports the production of keratin (what our hair is made of). A deficiency in biotin can lead to hair loss, so supplementing it can contribute to thicker, stronger hair.
Antioxidants: Many beauty supplements contain a blend of antioxidants, as these can protect against oxidative stress in your body, which otherwise damages skin cells and hair follicles leading to premature ageing and poor hair health.
Lead image: Ettinger
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