Packing Supplements for Air Travel

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Staying Healthy on the Go

Traveling is exciting, but packing supplements for air travel can be stressful. Will airport security be a problem? Will your health suffer if you leave them at home? Not only is it legal and safe to travel with your regular supplements, you’ll likely want to pack extra for the health risks of travel. Traveling can put stress on your immune system and digestion. 

Whether you’re flying across the country or embarking on an international adventure, exposure to new environments, new time zones, shared air in airplanes, and unfamiliar foods can all impact your health. To help you stay well and enjoy your trip, it’s important to pack the right supplements. In this guide, we’ll cover how to support your immune, sleep, and gut health while traveling, and how to pack your supplements for smooth passage through airport security.

Common Health Risks When Traveling

Airports and airplanes are breeding grounds for germs, with recycled air and close contact with strangers increasing your chances of exposure to new pathogens. Additionally, trying new-to-you foods in foreign countries can sometimes lead to digestive discomfort, making it essential to support your gut health.

Key concerns while traveling include:

• Immune health risks – Exposure to airborne germs in crowded spaces.
• Digestive discomfort – New foods, changes in diet, and altered eating schedules can affect digestion.
• Hydration and nutrient depletion – Dry cabin air and travel schedules can make it challenging to stay properly hydrated and nourished.
• Sleep disruption and jet lag – Changing time zones and adjusting to new sleep schedules can lead to poor rest.

Supplements for a Healthy Journey

Packing the right supplements can help you maintain your health while traveling. Here are our top recommendations:

Balanced Response™: Your Travel Companion for Immune & Stress Support

Airplane cabins can be a hotbed of germs, and your immune system may need extra support while traveling. Balanced Response™ is formulated for fast-acting immune defense with potent doses of vitamins A, C, and D, plus zinc [1]. Sambucus (elderberry), has shown specific benefits in supporting upper respiratory health and defense [2]. Shoden^® Ashwagandha has also been added to support a calm demeanor and resilience in the face of stress [3]. Taking it before and during travel can help to bolster your body’s natural defenses against airborne pathogens and feel ready to handle the unpredictability of adventure.

Happy Belly^®: A Must for Digestive Comfort

When trying new foods in a different country, your gut may struggle to adjust. This is when you will be happy to have Happy Belly^® on hand. Happy Belly^® Dysbiosis Formula contains a number of plant-based ingredients (oregon grape, garlic bulb extract, olive leaf extract, and berberine HCl) that have been shown to be clinically effective for ridding the gut of harmful organisms and restoring balance to the GI tract [4-7]. Of course, you’ll want to follow with a diverse and potent probiotic supplement to promote continued smooth digestion, so you can enjoy your meals worry-free.

BioMaintenance™ Shelf-Stable Probiotic and/or Saccharomyces Boulardii: Maintain Gut Health on the Go

A strong gut microbiome is key to overall health, especially when traveling [8]. BioMaintenance™ Shelf-Stable Probiotic provides a diverse blend of beneficial bacteria to support digestion and immune function. Since it doesn’t require refrigeration, it’s easy to pack and perfect for travel. 

Saccharomyces Boulardii is another excellent choice of probiotic for travel. As a beneficial yeast, S. Boulardii is resistant to antibiotics, stomach acid, and temperature change, making it an excellent choice to support the health of your bowels when traveling or using antibiotics. In addition, this strain benefits the integrity of both the intestine and the immune system via several different biological mechanisms [9].

Basic Maintenance^® Multivitamin: Keep Up with Your Daily Nutrition

Traveling often disrupts routines, including your supplement regimen. Basic Maintenance^® is a high-quality multivitamin/mineral formula that ensures you’re meeting your daily nutrient needs even when your diet changes. Taking it daily can help mitigate potential nutritional insufficiencies, and keep your energy levels and mood steady while on the go [10].

R.E.M. Maintenance™: Support Restful Sleep and Combat Jet Lag

Adjusting to new time zones can make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. R.E.M. Maintenance™ Restful Sleep Formula is designed to support relaxation and improve sleep quality, and may help you adjust to time zone changes more smoothly. It contains ingredients like magnesium, inositol, and the calming amino acid glycine, to help prepare your body and mind for sleep [11-13]. Melatonin is naturally released by the pineal gland before bed based on your circadian rhythm, so when you supplement with melatonin before bed, it can help to sync your circadian rhythm to a new time zone [14].

How to Pack Supplements for Air Travel

Ensuring your supplements make it through airport security hassle-free requires a bit of planning. Follow these tips:

1. Keep Supplements in Their Original Packaging

TSA regulations allow solid supplements like capsules and tablets in both carry-on and checked luggage [15]. Keeping them in their original bottles with clear labeling helps avoid confusion at security checkpoints.

2. Use a Travel Pill Organizer for Convenience

If you prefer to travel light, you can use a pill organizer to store your daily doses. Just keep a copy of the labels or take a picture of the original bottles to show airport security if needed.

3. Pack Powdered Supplements Separately

If you’re bringing powdered supplements, TSA requires that powders over 12 ounces be placed in a separate bin for screening [15]. To avoid delays, pack them in a clear, labeled container and keep them easily accessible.

4. Carry Liquids in TSA-Approved Sizes

If you have liquid supplements (including softgel capsules such as Mega Omega™), make sure they follow the 3.4-ounce rule for carry-ons [15]. Larger bottles should go in your checked luggage.

Stay Healthy, Travel Smart

By planning ahead and packing the right supplements, you can keep your immune system strong, your digestion balanced, and your sleep on track while traveling. Balanced Response™ protects against common airborne germs and promotes stress resilience, Happy Belly^® supports digestive comfort, BioMaintenance™ Shelf-Stable Probiotic keeps your gut microbiome thriving, Basic Maintenance^® helps maintain daily nutrition, and R.E.M. Maintenance™ supports restful sleep. Follow these simple packing tips, and you’ll be set for a smooth, healthy journey!

References

1. https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/full/10.1024/0300-9831/a000694
2. https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/9/4/488
3. https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(24)12916-7
4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665927123001326
5. https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/10/8/1680
6. https://uniquescientificpublishers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/traditional-medicine/85-96.pdf
7. https://journals.lww.com/ajandrology/fulltext/2024/26050/berberine_hydrochloride_alleviates_chronic.8.aspx
8. https://meridian.allenpress.com/jat/article/56/11/1213/451547/Probiotic-Supplementation-and-Respiratory
9. https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/8/5/444
10. https://ijlbpr.com/uploadfiles/145vol13issue11pp827-833.20250102115453.pdf
11. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12011-022-03162-1
12. https://www.rupahealth.com/post/do-you-know-about-inositol-learn-the-6-evidence-based-uses-for-this-powerful-nutrient
13. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11357-023-00970-8
14. https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/43408
15. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/medical?page=2#:~:text=Supplements%20*%20Carry%20On%20Bags:%20Yes.%20*%20Checked%20Bags:%20Yes.