🧳Travel essentials - supplements edition
It's summer, a time when wanderlust peaks, making you eager for a well-deserved trip or vacation. Are you planning on going somewhere this summer? You should. You deserve it, even if it's just for a few days. We encourage you to recharge and enjoy the nice weather in a different environment. It is true that travelling is supposed to be a wonderful experience, but there are also a few common health problems while travelling. It could be problems with your gut, an infection, dehydration, catching a cold, or a sunburn. But…there are natural solutions to all of these ailments. So instead of listing the basic stuff you need while travelling, such as water bottles, sun protecting clothing, adaptors, passports etc. We have decided to list some supplements you might want to pack on vacation.
Published
Issues with digestion? Try fibre and digestive enzymes.
Fibre
People with sensitive stomachs or those that easily get overwhelmed by different foods may have difficulty processing local cuisine or changing diets while on vacation. So it is common for diarrhoea or constipation to occur. This can be helped by taking fibre supplements because fibre contributes to a healthy gut.
 You are not only helping your travelling self, but making healthy changes for a more long term benefit. It has been shown that a high-fibre diet is associated with a decreased risk of many health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. (1)
Digestive enzymes
Breaking down food requires digestive enzymes. By speeding up chemical reactions, these proteins make nutrients easier to absorb. A lack of digestive enzymes makes it hard to digest food and might cause problems, for example it may leave you with stomach aches, diarrhoea, gas, or other uncomfortable symptoms, which is not something you want, especially not while on vacation. So a sufficient amount of digestive enzymes is a must. (2)
Generally speaking, enzymes target different nutrients, which can be classified into four categories:
- Amylase: the enzyme that breaks down starches and carbs. Honey and mangoes are both rich in amylase enzymes. (2)
- Protease: a protein-digesting enzyme. Honey and papaya ( a protease called papain) are rich in protease enzymes. (2)
- Lipase: the enzyme that breaks down fats. Avocados are rich in lipase enzymes (2)
- Lactase enzymes: the enzymes to help digest lactose from dairy products
Why are digestive enzymes important?
Various foods, such as fruits and vegetables, contain natural digestive enzymes and sometimes digestive health can be improved by eating them. However it is oftentimes not enough which is why a majority of people need to take digestive enzymes especially when they notice continuous digestive discomfort.
Taking digestive enzyme supplements is the bestway to get sufficient amounts and types of digestive enzymes. Various digestive enzymes are available from different brands here at Supplement Hub.Â
Different studies have shown that the ingredients in digestive enzymes can relieve the following conditions. (2)
- Poor digestion
- Malabsorption
- Abdominal bloating
- A feeling of fullness
- Gas
- Constipation
- Gastrointestinal inflammation
- Excessive burping or flatulence
It's also used in the treatment of: (2)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Post-pancreatectomy,
- Post-gastrointestinal bypass surgery
- Obstruction or narrowing of the bile or pancreatic duct
- Hypochlorhydria or achlorhydria
- Pancreatic secretion deficiencyÂ
- Food allergies
To help treat infections, try oregano oil.Â
Oregano oilÂ
Oil of Oregano is a must-have travel item! Why? There have been various studies that have shown oregano oil to be helpful for:
- Treating bacterial and viral infections
- Acting as a powerful immune stimulantÂ
- Preventing and treating respiratory tract infections in general, common colds and the flu.
Besides that, it is effective for treating candidiasis, parasites, warts, athlete's foot, insect bites, and cold sores. It can also help with digestive problems. Its antiseptic, antifungal and antiparasitic properties support and improve digestion and impede the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria.
Other practical uses include combating dandruff and seborrhoea caused by a fungal infection of the scalp (where you can mix a few drops of oregano oil into shampoo), improving or maintaining oral hygiene and combating infections of the mouth. (3)
Electrolytes to help prevent dehydrationÂ
When travelling, hiking, or camping, you may not have access to safe drinking water, which can lead to dehydration. It is also possible to become dehydrated if you sweat excessively, suffer from diarrhoea, or have a fever.Â
Electrolytes are minerals in body fluids such as blood, urine, tissues, and urine. It is essential to have electrolytes because they help with:(4)
- Make sure your body is properly hydrated
- Make sure your body's pH level is balanced
- Ensure that your cells receive nutrients
- Keep your cells clean by moving waste out
- Maintain a healthy nervous system, muscles, heart, and brain (4)
When the amount of water in your body changes, electrolyte levels in your body can become too low or too high, which is why it is important to drink as much water as you lose. When this balance is disturbed, you may lose too much water, resulting in dehydration. (4)However, water on its own does not always contain all the minerals you need to replenish what has been lost, which is why an electrolyte addition is recommended.
Consider bringing some immune supporting supplements, to prevent getting a coldÂ
Vitamin C
The human body cannot produce vitamin C naturally, so it is an essential dietary component. Vitamin C is important for maintaining optimal health. You can boost your vitamin C intake with many delicious foods that are rich in this nutrient, including citrus fruits, tomatoes, broccoli, and Brussel sprouts, or in supplement form.
Multi vitamins
We have an amazing body that is designed to function optimally on a wide variety of foods. However, as a result of our fast-paced lifestyles, and limited food variety the modern diet is often lacking in essential vitamins and nutrients. This is where multivitamins come in. In a multivitamin, you will find a wide variety of essential vitamins and minerals. They can help to fill in the nutrient gaps that may be present in your diet and boost your immune system and other bodily systems that rely on them. Whatever your reason for taking a multivitamin is, it's important to choose a high-quality product that contains all of the essential nutrients your body needs in the best bioavailable forms.
All the brands that we stock at Supplement Hub are GMP certified. This means they can guarantee that their products are made to the highest manufacturing standards. Each product is tested and monitored for quality throughout the manufacturing process. GMP is number one on this list for one important reason: it guarantees that all the other points we mention below have already been considered. When you buy supplements from GMP-certified brands, you can be sure they are of the highest standard.
We hope this was helpful for you and you won't encounter any ailments during your vacation. But if you do…just know these supplements can really be of help. If you have any questions or need additional guidance, don't hesitate to ask, our team is here to help. Reach out to info@supplementhub.com.
References
(2): https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-are-digestive-enzymes#:~:text=Digestive%20enzymes%20play%20a%20key,your%20digestive%20tract%20can%20absorb