Whether you are traveling for work or planning a vacation, it’s important to support your health and wellness while you’re on the road. Even the best-planned trips are stressful on your body. To keep your wellness routine in working order, here are the “why” and the “what” of the best supplements for travelers.

Reasons to pack supplements 

Even if suitcase space is limited, here are some good reasons you should take supplements with you.

  • Travel is stressful. Tight deadlines, long airport lines, cramped cars and airplane cabins that make it hard to sleep – these are just a few of the ways travel exerts stress on your body.
  • Your immunity also takes a hit from traveling. The added stress of traveling, plus a different sleep schedule, puts extra strain on your immune system – not to mention the possibility of traveling next to someone who has a cold or even the flu. Doesn’t it seem when traveling there is always one person on the plane who is sniffling, sneezing, and coughing?
  • Your diet isn’t at its best. A vacation is often like one long “cheat day” where you break from your normal healthy eating. You settle for airport fast food and indulge in appetizing new restaurant food. Doing both often means you don’t get the needed amount of nutrients and fiber.

What supplements to pack

What you should pack depends on the trip you’re taking. If it’s a simple overnight trip, then you probably just need your daily multi-vitamin/mineral supplement. However, if the trip is longer than overnight, here’s what we recommend bringing along (in addition to a daily multi-).

1. Energy

Traveling is exhausting and puts a stress on your body, so it’s important to bring something for energy support. Thorne’s Stress Balance (formerly Phytisone) is a unique botanical and nutrient formula designed to optimize the body's response to stress and to help reduce fatigue.*

Stress Balance provides key adaptogens like ashwagandha and ginseng as well as active form of B vitamins to support optimal adrenal function and promote a healthy cortisol response, thereby supporting your energy levels during this time of additional stress.*

2. Immune support

Because of the stress of travel, adding some extra immune support to your favorite beverage is a smart idea. Thorne’s Vitamin D Liquid is formulated with well-absorbed vitamin D3 in a liquid form that’s easy to dispense to support proper immune function.*

Although your body produces vitamin D when exposed to direct sunlight, travel may inhibit natural vitamin D production because of increased time spent indoors. Travel to northern regions during the winter (hello, ski vacation!) also means shorter daylight hours and decreased sunlight exposure.

The liquid dispenser makes it convenient to measure out the proper serving size to add to liquids while you're on the go. Just add 2 drops to a water bottle, cup of coffee, or other beverage. Vitamin D Liquid is in a 1-ounce (30 mL) bottle – TSA-friendly for your carry-on. Make sure to include Thorne’s Vitamin D Liquid in your clear, plastic, zip-top liquids bag whenever you fly!

Are you a frequent flyer who needs more tips on how to take your supplements with you? Check out our guide on how to travel with supplement to make airport security a breeze.

3. Sleep support

Although good restful sleep is important when traveling, sleep can be elusive no matter how long the trip. If you travel to a different time zone, you can be jet lagged and your body clock is completely thrown off.

In addition, you’re not sleeping in your own bed with your own pillow, and you might be worried about what’s going on at home: Are your pets being cared for? Is your family okay? To support good sleep, there’s Thorne’s Melaton-3™.* Melaton-3 supports restful sleep, helps balance circadian rhythms, and provides benefit for those with jet lag.*

4. Stress support

Like we’ve said, traveling has its stressful moments; but don’t let it ruin the trip. Thorne's PharmaGABA-250 is for both stress and sleep support.* It contains naturally sourced GABA, a brain chemical that supports restful sleep, acts like a "brake" on stress, and promotes a focused state of mind.*

5. Digestive/immune support

Having an upset stomach or getting sick is a surefire way to ruin a trip. Support both gut and immune health while traveling by using Thorne’s FloraSport 20B® – a unique probiotic that helps ward off traveler’s diarrhea and also supports your respiratory tract.*

Another aspect of travel – especially during the holidays – is unhealthy eating. It’s harder to stick to a normal diet routine because more often than not we fill up on comfort foods and holiday desserts. To give your gut a little extra support, try Advanced Digestive Enzymes.* This unique formula helps digest fats, proteins, and carbs by providing additional digestive enzymes.* Bring it to dinner gatherings and pass it around – your friends and family will thank you.

6. Comprehensive support

Try Thorne's Travel Bundle. It contains Melaton-3 for sleep support, FloraSport 20B for immune and GI support, and Catalyte® – a powdered electrolyte replacement supplement.* It’s easy to get dehydrated while traveling, particularly when traveling by air. Take some Catalyte in a glass of water when you reach your destination. Whether traveling for business or just for fun, the Travel Bundle is a perfect trio of supplements for any type of trip.   

What happens if your trip is for a week or more? You might want to consider brining a little extra support (in addition to your daily multi-vitamin/mineral, energy, immune, and sleep support, of course.) Check out this article about our recommended supplements for an extended trip. 

Other travel health tips

Here are a few more quick tips to help you make the most of your trip.

  • Stay hydrated (and always drink alcohol responsibly).
  • Find time for a workout (or at least try to walk as much as possible).
  • Aim for one healthy meal a day, like a meal filled with fruits and veggies – the added fiber will help ward off traveler’s constipation.
  • And make sure to get enough sleep!