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Body + Mind

The Best Supplements To Take on Your Travels

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.

OTO

These sleep-enhancing capsules combine nine brain enhancing nootropics and adaptogens, including montmorency cherry – a natural source of melatonin; reishi mushroom – which promotes a deeper sleep; and ashwagandha to help soothe travel-related stress. Most importantly, the supplements will leave you feeling refreshed, not groggy.

 

 

FORM NUTRITION

Catch some much-needed ZZZZs with Form Nutrition's all-natural supplements. They combine 5HTP (a precursor to your 'happy hormone' serotonin that helps your sleep-wake cycle) with calming ingredients including magnesium and L-Theanine. Together, they all encourage relaxation and a deeper, better quality slumber.

HEIGHTS

Plenty of sleep-boosting magnesium glycinate – no unnecessary fillers. A single serving of this supplement delivers 80 per cent of the daily recommended amount of magnesium, meaning it is supercharged to not only improve your sleep, but also help recovery post-exercise and top up your energy supplies. That means it is great for active travellers.

 


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. 

OPTIBAC

A top choice for frequent travellers, Optibac's specific supplement for long-haul travel contains 5 billion CFU live cultures – all of which can survive not only out of the fridge but in hotter climates. It is especially designed to give you increased confidence when travelling (and eating and drinking) abroad, by helping support digestive health and even occasional upset stomachs.

SYMPROVE

One of the most beauty director-recommended gut supplements, Symprove's unique delivery system ensures that good bacteria (like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) actually reaches your gut alive. Use it in advance of your travels to strengthen your gut. Then, pop an unopened bottle in your case and store in your hotel room's fridge to prolong the benefits.

NUTRAVITA

This is an award-winning vegan gut supplement that gets to work quickly – meaning you can bid holiday-related bloating and discomfort goodbye in a flash. That's because each two capsule serving contains an impressive 21 live bacteria strains (including some of the most clinically-studied on the market).

 


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.

ALTRIENT

Experts and wellness insiders swear by this liquid vitamin C supplement for keeping illnesses at bay – as it contains the most bioavilable form of the essential vitamin. Plus, they are simple to travel with. Simply squeeze a sachet into your favourite cold drink daily, and you can benefit from strengthened immune function and reduced tiredness.

WILD NUTRITION

Wild Nutrition uses a food-grown source of zinc that makes it more digestible (and therefore useable) by your body than synthetic forms. In even better news, it combines this highly bioavailable zinc with additional nutrients like selenium and vitamin B6, which further supports your overall immune system's resilience.

VEGETOLOGY

It's a great idea to supplement with vitamin D whether you travel frequently or not, but it helps that these are so easy to throw into your carry-on case. Vegetology's vitamin D supplements are particularly good for immunity as they contain a high concentration of vitamin D3, which enhances the body’s ability to defend against infections.


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.

VIVISCAL

Our beauty director's favourite hair supplement (which helped her regrow her hair in her late twenties), Viviscal is one of the most clinically-supported beauty supplements. It contains lots of biotin and zinc, which together can quickly support the healthier growth of your tresses.

JS HEALTH

JS Health, founded by Jessica Spiel, offers a really supportive approach to beauty supplementation. First, there's the supplements themselves, including this collagen-boosting bundle of marine collagen powder and Skin + Digestion vitamins to reduce signs of wrinkles, breakouts, mild eczema and redness. Plus, there's the JSHealth Nourish Hub, where you can receive general skin-boosting advice from the in-house nutritionists. 

ADVANCED NUTRITION PROGRAMME

Advanced Nutrition Programme's skin supplements combine a whole host of key skin-enhancing ingredients like vitamin A (for skin renewal), vitamin C (to boost collagen production), vitamin E (for antioxidant protection), zinc (for healing), and omega-3 fatty acids (for hydration and to reduce inflammation). That's a lot of reasons to make your skin smile.


Lead image: Ettinger

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