4Views 0Comments
These are the supplements every smart traveller should be taking
Travel is one of life’s great pleasures – but it’s also one of the fastest ways to knock your body off balance. Early flights, late nights, new foods, different routines, unfamiliar beds, cabin air and that “holiday cocktail” of caffeine, sun, alcohol and excitement… It all adds up and takes a toll. “Flying is basically a full-body stress test” says Dr Naomi Newman-Beinart, PhD – a health expert, chartered psychologist and nutritionist.
“The cabin air is drier than most deserts, meaning you dehydrate much more quickly than you realise, slowing digestion, draining energy and weakening your immune defences. Sitting still for hours causes your gut to become sluggish, so that’s why bloating and discomfort are so common after long-haul flights. Then there’s jet lag. When your body clock is erratic, everything from digestive enzymes to mood hormones are affected,” she explains.
Moving between totally different climates – from New York’s cooler temps to the heat of Mumbai, for example – adds an extra layer of physiological whiplash. No wonder so many travellers feel tired, puffy or vaguely run-down by day two. Your body is busy recalibrating to new temperatures, new humidity levels, new time zones… And then we throw totally different eating patterns on top.
The three pillars that matter most on the road? Hydration, gut support and steady energy. And one of the biggest, most overlooked factors in how you feel when you travel is what (and how) you eat once you arrive. “When it comes to gut health and travelling, small, realistic habits work best. Start with hydration as this is the simplest way to keep digestion moving. Try to include one fibre-rich meal each day, take a daily probiotic or include fermented foods when you can. It’s all about gentle balance, not rigid rules,” Naomi says.
Cooler climates ask more of the body. They’re often physically demanding – think long hiking days, icy treks, ski sessions that leave muscles burning – and they tend to come with far less sunlight than we’re used to. A few well-chosen supplements can make the whole experience smoother. “I recommend Vitamin D for mood, immunity and bone support when sunlight is minimal; Omega-3s for inflammation and joint comfort, especially after a day on the slopes; and Magnesium for muscle recovery and deeper sleep, as cold climates and altitude can disrupt both”, Naomi advises. “Cordyceps mushrooms are brilliant for stamina, oxygen use and recovery, making them particularly useful at high altitude.”
Hot, humid destinations come with their own set of wellbeing challenges – relentless heat, constant sun exposure and the kind of busy, active days that leave you pleasantly exhausted but physiologically depleted. To keep everything balanced, Naomi recommends a few smart supplements that make a real difference. “Electrolytes are essential – heat increases mineral loss and replacing those minerals keeps energy stable while preventing headaches and muscle cramps. B vitamins help maintain steady energy on long days packed with walking, exploring and swimming. Adaptogens like ashwagandha support a calmer stress response when everything feels go-go-go. And Saccharomyces boulardii, a traveller-friendly probiotic, helps keep gut balance in check no matter where the local cuisine leads you.”
Now that you know what your body actually needs when you’re travelling, here are the supplements that are genuinely worth packing – the best formulas, smart travel-friendly formats and the ones that earn their place in your carry-on every time.
The best electrolytes for travel
Heights Hydrate+Electrolyte
This smart electrolyte blend pairs essential minerals with brain-health protecting Cognizin citicoline, so it’s ideal for keeping focus and energy steady on travel days. Whether you’re hiking, presenting or running around a new city, this combo helps you stay hydrated and perform at your best.
Humantra Hydration Sticks Cherry
Travel is dehydrating at every step – cabin air, heat, caffeine and unfamiliar foods all take a toll. Humantra’s Cherry electrolyte sachets help restore fluid balance, support gut health and keep digestion moving smoothly while you’re away. Light, packable and easy to sip throughout the day, they’re a simple way to stay hydrated and avoid that sluggish, travel-worn feeling.
Elete Electrolyte Pocket Bottle
This ultra-concentrated electrolyte blend uses purified inland sea water from the Great Salt Lake in Utah, plus potassium chloride, to deliver a full spectrum of natural trace minerals. Just a few drops in your water restores essential electrolytes, supports energy and hydration, and helps you arrive feeling far less drained. If you’re partying or travelling hard – have this on hand.
The best sleep supplements for travel
This award-winning sleep supplement supports deeper, more restorative rest with a blend of relaxing and restorative zinc, linden and B vitamins. It helps you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer and wake up clearer – ideal for countering jet lag, unfamiliar beds or disrupted travel schedules.
Revive Collagen Sleep Inner Calm
A soothing mix of magnesium, ashwagandha, reishi and L-tryptophan helps ease stress and promote serotonin for a calmer, more settled night. Perfect for winding down after long travel days or resetting your sleep cycle in a new time zone – all paired with a handy collagen boost.
This rich cacao blend enhances focus and promotes deep calm thanks to a trio of functional mushrooms – Lion’s Mane, Tremella and Reishi – each chosen for their ability to support cognitive clarity, immunity and relaxation. It’s also fortified with an organic B-vitamin complex supporting energy, mood and even healthy hair, skin and nails. Think of it as the ultimate wind-down drink for travel days when your nervous system feels a bit overstimulated.
The best digestion supplements for travel
Formulated specifically for travel, this probiotic blend includes Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria and Saccharomyces strains that survive heat, humidity and changing climates – giving your gut extra support wherever you go. With the renowned travel-friendly probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii, it helps maintain digestive balance on the move.
A brilliant daily staple for keeping digestion steady when travel throws your routine off. This blend combines 11 plant fibres and botanicals, delivering 7g of fibre per serving to help regulate digestion, feed the microbiome and support overall metabolic balance. Ideal for combating the sluggishness or irregularity that often happens on the road.
This science-backed blend of 30 organic fruits, vegetables and pulses is designed to nourish and diversify the gut microbiome. Packed with fibre, prebiotics and polyphenols it supports digestion, immunity and overall gut health. Just mix the berry-flavoured powder into water, smoothies or yoghurt.
The best immunity supplements for travel
BetterYou Vitamin C Daily Oral Spray
This fast-absorbing spray delivers a targeted hit of vitamin C to support immunity, boost the absorption of iron and your energy levels – it should be your go-to for full flights, busy itineraries and times when you need a quick immunity boosting spritz.
Hifas Da Terra Bio-Defense
This blend combines five organic immune-supporting mushrooms with naturally sourced vitamins C and D to help keep your defences strong. Reishi, shiitake and maitake are particularly potent, making a daily dose of this blend a helpful ally for preventing colds and staying well enough to actually enjoy your trip.
A travel-friendly daily chew packed with immunity essentials to keep you well on the move. Each dose delivers vitamin C to reduce tiredness, zinc and selenium to support immune function and protect cells, and B6 for steady energy. If you hate swallowing regular supplements and prefer a chew, these are the top choice.
The best protein powder for travel
Huel Lite Ready-to-Drink Shakes
A perfect grab-and-go option for travel days, each 500ml bottle gives you a light, nutritionally complete meal with 25g of plant-based protein, 26 essential vitamins and minerals, and just 2g of sugar. Smooth, gluten-free and vegan, it’s an easy way to stay fuelled when airports (and hit those protein goals), early flights or long transfers derail your routine.
MyProtein Clear Vegan Protein Sachets
These single-serve sachets deliver 10g of refreshing, fruit-forward plant protein with none of the milky taste – ideal for hot climates or on-the-go mixing. With only 1g of sugar and half your daily B-vitamin intake per serving, they’re a lightweight way to keep your protein up while travelling.
Momentous Plant Protein 10-Pack
For protein shakes on the go, these vegan sachets are a no-brainer. Each one delivers 20g of smooth, complete plant protein thanks to a clever pea-and-rice blend that provides the full amino acid profile to help support muscle repair. Ideal for active trips these single-serve packs slip easily into any carry-on or backpack.
The best supplements for energy and focus while travelling
Jolt The Ultimate Age Blocker
A smart, one-a-day formula designed to keep your energy, focus and resilience high, especially when travelling. It combines NMN to boost cellular energy, trans-tesveratrol to protect cells and support brain health and fisetin to clear out ageing, dysfunctional cells. It’s a potent, science-led blend that helps you stay sharper and recover faster, wherever you land.
Protect Your Energy Patches
These topical patches deliver a slow, consistent release of B vitamins, green tea extract and natural adaptogens to support focus, mood and resilience. You simply stick one on and let it work for up to 24 hours – a low-effort, high-impact way to stay energised on the go.
Ancient + Brave Brave Clarity Sulis Tincture
A fast-absorbing blend of Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps and organic biodynamic herbs designed to support mental clarity and calm on the go. Vitamin C contributes to normal psychological function and helps reduce tiredness and fatigue, while antioxidants protect against oxidative stress. With a bright, citrus-led flavour and grounding herbal notes, this portable tincture is an easy daily ritual for focus and balance when travelling.
The best calming supplements for travel
Ross J. Barr Calm Patches
Created by leading acupuncturist Ross J. Barr, these discreet patches are designed to ease headaches, brain fog, tension and work perfectly for travel overwhelm. They blend traditional Chinese medicine ingredients like Chuan-Xiong for calming, Safflower to reduce inflammation and Asarum for aches and pains, with a soothing scent for an immediate grounding effect. Apply to the temples or forehead for fast, calming relief on the go.
Perfect Night’s Sleep Magnesium Body Butter
A deeply nourishing body butter infused with skin-penetrating magnesium – the wonder mineral known for supporting relaxation and better sleep. It softens, hydrates and delivers magnesium while surrounding you in a calming scent. Perfect for winding down for a long-haul flight.
The best detox supplements for travel
Powered by over 20 years of research, this antioxidant elixir uses a blend of 17 herbs, roots and extracts to support liver health, reduce the effects of toxins and boost mental clarity. It’s ideal for travel weeks, late nights, post festival season or anything that leaves your system feeling overloaded.
