Travelling Often Makes You Sick? 4 Supplements You Should Know About
Getting sick is probably the last thing anyone wants while travelling. Trips are meant to be a break from routine — a chance to explore new destinations, sample different cuisines, meet people and make memories.
Yet travel can also put extra stress on the body. Changes in sleep patterns, long journeys, unfamiliar food, dehydration and exposure to new environments can leave some people dealing with fatigue, digestive problems or infections during their trip.
Supplements cannot guarantee that you will stay healthy while travelling. However, some may support normal immune function or offer modest benefits in certain situations. Physician and content creator Dr Kunal Sood recently shared a list of supplements that people may consider adding to their routine.
These should be viewed as an addition — not a replacement — for basic travel precautions such as staying hydrated, getting adequate sleep, practising good hand hygiene and being careful about food and water.
In the caption of his Instagram video, Dr Sood also cautioned that the supplements should not replace safe food and water practices, insect precautions or hand hygiene.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D plays an important role in normal immune function. However, clinical evidence has not established that taking vitamin D supplements reliably prevents respiratory infections.
Addressing a vitamin D deficiency can be beneficial for overall health, but taking a supplement immediately before travelling should not be considered a guaranteed way to prevent infections.
Zinc
Zinc is essential for normal immune-system function, but taking it routinely has not clearly been shown to prevent colds.
There is some evidence that oral zinc lozenges, when started soon after cold symptoms appear, may modestly reduce the duration of a cold. Intranasal zinc products, however, should be avoided because they have been associated with loss of smell.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is another popular choice among people looking to support their immune health while travelling.
Regular supplementation does not generally prevent people from catching colds, although it may slightly reduce how long a cold lasts. Taking vitamin C only after symptoms appear has not consistently been shown to provide the same benefit.
Very high doses can also cause digestive problems, including stomach discomfort and diarrhoea.
Probiotics
Probiotics are often associated with digestive health, making them particularly relevant for travellers who are concerned about stomach problems.
Some specific probiotic strains may offer modest protection against certain respiratory infections, but the benefits vary considerably between strains and products. Evidence for using probiotics to prevent travellers’ diarrhoea remains insufficient for routine recommendation.
Supplements Aren’t A Substitute For Travel Precautions
Although certain supplements may have a role in supporting overall health, they should not be treated as a shield against travel-related illnesses.
Good sleep, adequate hydration, safe food and drinking water, regular handwashing and appropriate insect precautions remain important parts of staying healthy while travelling. People with existing medical conditions or those taking medication should also check with a healthcare professional before starting new supplements.
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