The holiday season is full of joy and family festivities…and long-haul trips…and stress. We have a tendency to put a lot of pressure on ourselves to make the most of holiday travel.
After all, you only get to see far-away family once a year. But wintertime already puts excessive stress on your immune system.
When you add jet lag, alcohol, late nights and anxiety, you’re asking for a green Christmas (we’re talking about the hue of your face, not your yard).
Keeping your immune system strong is the most important thing you can do for your health during holiday trips.
But fighting bacteria and viruses during the chilly months is an uphill battle. Your immune system is naturally weaker in the winter, and closed spaces like planes and cars are the perfect places for germs to spread [1].
Stress, a lack of sleep and partying will also boost your risk of catching a nasty (hum)bug.
How do you balance a healthy immune system and still enjoy your holiday travels?
The science-based tips below, including key vitamins for travel, will boost your immunity without putting a damper on the holiday spirit.
1. Pre-trip Prep
Don’t wait until your trip begins to start supporting your immune health. By then, it could be too late!
Before you leave, do some basic preparation to enhance your immunity and reduce stress. This won’t just keep you healthier over the holidays—it will also improve your mood and energy levels so you can deck the halls without hitting a wall.
Here’s what to do…
…30 days before your trip:
- Take a daily multivitamin or immunity support supplement to bolster your immune system
- Confirm travel arrangements and accommodation to avoid last-minute stress
- Set a flexible schedule for your trip and confirm with those you plan to visit (to avoid stressful complications)
- Schedule seasonal vaccines for the family at least 10 days before traveling
…7 days before your trip:
- Prep your bags and make a packing checklist
- Avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol
- Get 8 hours of sleep per night
- Eat light meals consisting of unprocessed foods (to offset those holiday pounds!)
2. Balance Comfort Foods with Nutrition
We would never tell you to avoid your favorite holiday foods when on vacation. Digging into Christmas cookies and ladling on some extra gravy is what the holidays are all about!
But when you’re not having big holiday meals, balance those calories and comfort foods with lighter, more nutritious meals.
No, you don’t need to eat raw kale and carrots. Instead, aim for a balance of fresh vegetables, proteins and carbs.
For example, instead of making a sandwich with that leftover turkey, put that bird over some greens and enjoy an uplifting salad.
Also, be wary of portion control when you’re not in feast mode, and avoid snacking between meals. That way, you can enjoy that extra slice of pumpkin pie later without feeling too guilty.
If your diet is at the mercy of your holiday hosts, keep it under control with a blood sugar support supplement. It may help curb your appetite and manage those sugar spikes.
If you’re worried about getting Santa’s belly for Xmas, try a weight management supplement like Manna Lipo Lean. It boosts metabolism and controls cravings so you burn more and eat less while still feeling satisfied from every meal.
3. Support Your Liver
More eggnog, anyone? It’s hard to say no to an extra drink (or three) when you’re enjoying time with friends and family.
But alcohol can weaken your immunity and ruin your tomorrow.
It’s not just hangovers you need to worry about. Your liver is your body’s detox organ. If you want to stay healthy through New Year’s Day, your body needs to be able to remove toxins, clean your blood and metabolize nutrients effectively. Yeah, your liver does all that.
Luckily, you can still have a few extra drinks and protect your liver with a liver support supplement.
Liver support supplements contain essential nutrients that protect your liver from damage and improve its ability to keep you toxin-free. One of the most important is DHM, which has been found to prevent hangovers by speeding up your liver’s ability to process harmful byproducts of alcohol [2].
In doing this, DHM also protects the liver from alcohol-related damage. DHM is a primary ingredient in Manna Liver Support, along with a range of immunity-boosting vitamins and minerals.
4. Stay Active
It can be tempting to turn into a blob during the holidays, especially when you aren’t at home.
There’s nothing better than waking up in a hotel and turning the TV on or grabbing a cup of coffee and sitting on the sofa all morning at a loved one’s place. It also tends to be cold and dark outside during the holiday months.
Why not just stay in with cookies and cocoa?
It’s true that you deserve to relax on vacation, but too much inactivity will make you feel lethargic and grouchy.
A little physical activity—even just a short walk each day—can reduce stress, boost energy and help you stay slim. Exercise also increases the circulation of immune cells and reduces inflammation—both critical to staying infection-free during your travels [3].
5. Take Some “You” Time
Stress is one of the biggest immunity suppressors, and it can creep up on you during the holidays.
As you worry about managing the kids, seeing all your loved ones, preparing enough food and wrapping those gifts, it can be easy to forget to take a minute to breathe. Anxiety can be even worse if you’re a guest in someone else’s home and never really feel like you’re able to relax.
No matter how busy you get while traveling over the holidays, make sure to schedule some time for yourself each day. Use this time to reflect on the best parts of your trip, or just focus on the present moment with some breathing exercises.
Just 5 minutes of relaxed deep breathing has been found to improve immunity by reducing stress [4]. If you’re not into breathing exercises, just take 10-15 minutes per day to clear your head and do nothing at all. A little “you” time can go a long way towards improving your health and your mood.
If the holidays make you especially anxious (as they do to nearly 40% of Americans), consider taking supplements for stress support [5].
Certain nutrients, such as magnesium, B vitamins and vitamin C, have been found to support mental health and reduce stress and anxiety.
Travel Healthy This Holiday Season
Keeping your immune system strong during your holiday trip is the best gift you can give to yourself.
But it’s not just about you.
If you’re visiting loved ones or family friends (especially elderly ones), your immunity strength can also protect them. The last thing you want to give your hosts for Christmas is a nasty cold or a trip to the hospital.
Holiday travel is a major spreader of disease, and experts have found that most infections spread after travelers arrive at their destination [6].
That means you need to maintain immunity with good nutrition and healthy habits throughout your trip to avoid getting sick.
Follow the tips above and start taking Manna Liposomal Elderberry Immune now to ensure your holiday vacay is filled with cheer—and not sniffles this year!
FAQ
Taking vitamins while traveling helps boost your immune system, reduce stress, and keep you healthy, especially when your body is exposed to new environments and germs.
Essential vitamins for travel include Vitamin C for immune support, Vitamin B for energy and stress relief, and Vitamin D to strengthen your immune system in winter.
Vitamin C boosts your immune system by fighting off infections, reducing the risk of catching a cold or flu, which is common in crowded places like airports and planes.
While a balanced diet is important, supplements can help ensure you’re getting enough key nutrients, especially when traveling disrupts your normal eating habits.
Vitamins like Vitamin B and magnesium are great for managing stress and anxiety, helping you stay calm and focused while traveling during the busy holiday season.
In addition to vitamins, minerals like zinc and antioxidants such as curcumin can support your immune system, reduce inflammation, and help your body stay resilient on the go.
Sources:
- https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/can-winter-make-you-sick
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3292407/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/07/well/move/exercise-immunity-covid.html
- https://www.candi.nhs.uk/news/breathing-exercises-help-reduce-stress-and-improve-immune-system
- https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/mcleans-guide-managing-mental-health-around-holidays
- https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-qa-podcast-holiday-travel-gatherings-likely-to-increase-the-spread-of-respiratory-viruses/
