We've all been there. You spend months planning the perfect vacation. You book the flights, research the hotels, and create an itinerary that would make a travel agent jealous. Then, two days into the trip, you wake up with a scratchy throat.
Suddenly, your dream vacation turns into a tour of the hotel bed.
It’s a common story. Travel exposes us to new environments, disrupted sleep schedules, and thousands of strangers. It’s the perfect storm for getting sick. In fact, studies suggest you are over 100 times more likely to catch a cold on a plane than in your daily life.
But getting sick isn’t inevitable. With the right strategy, you can keep your immune system strong no matter where your passport takes you.
At Zaca, we’ve been testing supplements and herbs in high-altitude environments since 2008. We know what works when your body is under stress. This guide covers everything you need to know about staying healthy on the go, from the science of travel immunity to the best immune booster for travel.
Why is your immune system important for travel? Your immune system is your body's natural defense mechanism against infections and stresses on the body. When traveling, your body is exposed to new environments and germs that your immune system may not be familiar with. As a result, your immune system may weaken.
Therefore, it's essential to keep your immune system strong when traveling to prevent any potential health issues and maximize your experience to ensure you feel good.
You aren't just imagining it. You really are more susceptible to illness when you travel. Here is why your body takes a hit the moment you leave home.
1. New Germs and Environments
Your immune system is a learning machine. It knows how to fight the germs in your hometown. But when you travel to a new region, you encounter new bacteria and viruses your body hasn't seen before. Your immune system has to work overtime to identify and fight these new invaders.
2. Airplane Cabins (The "Tin Can" Effect)
Airplanes are tough on the body. The humidity in a cabin usually drops to around 10-20%. For context, the Sahara Desert has an average humidity of 25%. This dry air dries out your mucous membranes (in your nose and throat), which are your body's first line of defense against viruses. When those barriers crack, germs get in easily.
3. Jet Lag and Sleep Disruption
Your circadian rhythm regulates more than just sleep; it regulates your immune function. When you cross time zones, your internal clock gets confused. This disrupts the production of proteins called cytokines, which help the immune system fight off infection.
4. Stress and Diet Changes
Travel is fun, but it’s also stressful. Navigating airports, missing connections, and speaking new languages spikes your cortisol levels. High cortisol suppresses the immune system. Add in airport food, alcohol, and irregular meals, and your body lacks the fuel it needs to defend itself.
Not all supplements are created equal. When you are living out of a suitcase, you need specific support. Here is what to look for when choosing the best immune booster for travel.
Zaca is a natural and effective immune supplement that's made from a blend of superfoods, herbs, and amino acids. As a chewable, it's designed to provide a range of health benefits, including increased cellular energy (not caffeinated), increased hydration, speedier recovery and enhanced immunity.
If you're looking for the best immune-boosting supplements, Zaca can help you stay healthy and strong against immune system stresses while traveling.
Zaca contains a range of ingredients that have been scientifically proven to support the immune system. These include:
Together, these ingredients work synergistically to boost the immune system and strengthen the body for the physiological stresses of traveling. In addition to the convenience and ease of use with Zaca's chewables, it's one of the best supplements for travel.
How does Zaca stack up against the other options you see at the airport kiosk?
Vs. Vitamin C Packets:
Traditional fizzy powders are popular, but they focus almost entirely on Vitamin C. While Vitamin C is good, it isn't a silver bullet. They also require water to mix, which isn't always easy when the seatbelt sign is on. Zaca offers a broader range of amino acids and antioxidants in a format that requires no water.
Vs. Electrolyte Powders:
Electrolytes are great for hydration, but most don't offer direct immune support. They fix the dehydration but ignore the oxidative stress and germ exposure. Zaca supports both hydration and immune function.
Vs. Jet Lag Pills:
Most jet lag remedies use melatonin to force sleep. That helps with rest, but it doesn't strengthen your immune system against germs. Zaca focuses on recovery and resilience, helping you feel better naturally without sedatives.
There are many immune boosters on the market, but Zaca stands out for several reasons. First, it's made from natural ingredients and contains no artificial preservatives or additives. Second, it's effective and has science-back immune supporting ingredients. Finally, it's convenient and easy to take on the go.
For these reasons, Zaca stands out as a better option compared to other immune boosters.
If you are building your own travel health kit, these are the essential nutrients you should consider to maintain your resilience on the road.
Known as the "master antioxidant," glutathione is vital for protecting cells from oxidative stress and supporting detoxification. Maintaining optimal levels is critical for a robust immune response, especially during the physical stress of travel. Unlike many supplements, Zaca uses a fermented form of glutathione that is highly absorbable.
The classic immune defender. It acts as an antioxidant and stimulates the production of white blood cells. While it is not an instant cure, maintaining consistent levels can help reduce the duration of illness.
Many travelers are deficient in Vitamin D, particularly during winter months. It plays a critical role in modulating the immune response. If your destination lacks natural sunlight, supplementation is highly recommended.
Zinc helps immune cells communicate and function effectively. Lozenges are particularly useful for travel as they release zinc directly into the throat tissue where viruses often begin to take hold.
Approximately 70% of your immune system resides in your gut. Because travel can disrupt digestion and internal balance, probiotics help maintain healthy gut bacteria, which is fundamental to your overall immune defense.
Traveling can be fun and exciting, but it can also take a big toll on your immune system.
Being in new environments, surrounded by different people and germs, being exposed to different foods and water, increased oxidative stress while flying, and dehydrating can all increase your risk of getting sick.
Luckily, there are several things you can do to boost your immune system and stay healthy while traveling. Here are seven tips to help you stay healthy on your next trip:
One of the best things you can do for your immune system is to get enough sleep. When you're sleep deprived, your body's ability to fight off infections and viruses is compromised.
Aim for at least seven hours of sleep per night, and try to stick to a consistent sleep schedule, even when you're traveling. Also take precautions for jet lag if you have long duration flights too. An easy step you can take to maximize your sleep is getting natural sunlight during the day, which can increase melatonin product to help your sleep quality.
Staying hydrated is another important factor in keeping your immune system strong. Airplane travel, high altitudes, and high activity levels can lead to increased fluid loss.
When you're dehydrated, your body is more susceptible to issues. Drink at least half your body weight in water each day.
TIP: To enhance your hydration, add sea salt (electrolytes) to your food and drink. And take Zaca hydration chewables to assist in water absorption.
Heavy amounts of alcohol can weaken your immune system. Alcohol is known to make it easier to get sick, reduces your good gut bacteria, and can lower antibodies that help fight.⁸
While cut off drinking might be hard if traveling for vacation, at least give your body a day or two with little to no alcohol. Once you know you're feeling good and have no jet lag from flying, it'll be safer to have a few drinks.
Exercise can promote the presence of immune cells throughout the body. According to Dr. Afaneh, “If people are looking for a magic pill, it’s exercise. It supports your immune system.”[¹⁰]
Light exercise is best, where too long or too hard of an exercise can cause bad stress on the body. In addition, after sedentary airplane travel, exercise can also help energy levels and increase blood flow.
Intermittent fasting has been shown to help your body facilitates the removal of waste know as autophagy, which is a key process within your body. With these processes facilitated your body can be more efficient and conserve energy, which leads to a stronger immune system.[¹¹]
It takes on average 4-6 hours to digest and metabolize food, so it's commonly recommended in intermittent fasting to not eat for 12-18 hours.
Stress can weaken your immune system, making your body more susceptible to problems when traveling. Try to avoid stress as much as possible — including rest, breathing techniques, meditation, and even workouts and quality sleep will help.
Last but not least as we mentioned before, taking immune-boosting travel supplements is highly effective to help keep your immune system stay strong. Look for supplements that contain ingredients like vitamin C and antioxidants, which have been shown to boost immunity.
Zaca is not only popular for being a best immune booster for travel, it's a travel sized vitamin with compact and convenient packaging that is easy to take on-the-go.
In summary, in addition to the best immune booster for travel, follow this top tips to boost your immune system — which includes getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, limiting alcohol, exercising regularly, intermittent fasting, and avoiding stress.
Print this out or screenshot it for your next trip:
How to Avoid Common Pitfalls:
As an all-in-one travel supplement, Zaca can help keep you healthy, hydrated and quickly recovered when on-the-go. The chewables are packed with essential vitamins, herbs, and antioxidants that are crucial for maintaining a healthy immune system and combating oxidative stress. Glutathione alone helps regenerate vitamin C within the body. Perfect for travelers and adventurers — simply take 2-4 chewables per each day of traveling or as needed. Try Zaca chewable supplement today and fuel your travels.
Traveling is for memories, not symptoms. Don't let a weak immune system ruin your trip.
Stay ahead of the game with these basics:
Zaca makes it easy. Our chewables are packed with antioxidants and glutamine to keep you hydrated and protected on the go. As experts in high-altitude travel since 2008, we’ve done the testing so you can travel with confidence.
Ready to travel healthier? Shop Zaca's Chewables today and give your immune system what it needs.
Vitamin C consistently ranks as one of the top travel vitamins you should take before and during your trip.
Vitamin C helps immune defense by supporting numerous cellular functions related to the immune system and can protect against oxidative stress from the environment.⁵ With its strength, vitamin C has become popular for so many usages including travel and sickness to hangovers and exercise.
Immune-boosting Vitamin C benefits:
TIP: If you're going to take vitamin C to boost your immune system for travel, beware of products such as Emergen-C that contains ascorbic acid instead of natural vitamin C. Ascorbic acid is a synthetic vitamin missing key bioflavonoids, often made from gmo corn syrup, and could have a negative effect on your gut.⁷ Our Zaca chewables contain naturally occurring vitamin C from prickly pear and with the regenerative abilities of glutathione.
Yes, but they are not a magic solution. They are most effective when supporting an already healthy body. Ingredients like Glutathione, Zinc, and Vitamin C have documented benefits for immune function. Consider them as added support that provides your body with the resources it needs to defend itself.
It is best to start taking supplements 3 to 5 days before your departure. This allows nutrient levels to build up in your system, offering protection when you enter a high-risk environment like an airport.
Generally, combining supplements like multivitamins, probiotics, and amino acids is safe. However, you should always consult with your doctor before starting any new supplement regimen, especially if you take prescription medication.
Yes, but just not any mask. High-quality masks, such as N95s, can physically block the respiratory droplets that transmit viruses, according to NIH research. Even if you don't wear a mask for the entire trip, consider wearing one during boarding and deplaning when air filtration systems are often turned off.
Probiotics can help prevent gut-related sicknesses, such as "Traveler's Tummy." A healthy gut microbiome makes it more difficult for pathogenic bacteria from contaminated food or water to colonize your digestive system. (source: Vitamedica)
To boost your immune system before traveling, start preparing early. Prioritize getting adequate sleep, eating a healthy diet, and staying hydrated. Additionally, reducing stress is important, as stress can significantly weaken your immune system.
Consider taking supplements such as vitamin C, zinc, elderberry, and probiotics. These can help support your immune system throughout your trip.
To help prevent illness, pack immune-boosting supplements like Zaca’s chewables. They are formulated with antioxidants and herbs to help maintain your body's defenses.
Focus on staying hydrated, especially at high altitudes. Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face. Taking a daily immune-support supplement can also be beneficial.
Yes, zinc is essential for immune function. Starting a zinc supplement a few days before your trip can help prepare your body's defenses.
While both products can be effective, Emergen-C typically offers more targeted support due to its higher vitamin C content. Zaca’s recovery chewables are a portable and beneficial addition to your travel wellness kit.
When comparing products, look for natural ingredients like elderberry, echinacea, or ginger. Zaca’s chewables are a convenient and effective option, particularly for high-altitude travel.
You can find immune-boosting products on the Zaca website, as well as on e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Thrive Market.
For frequent travelers, convenient and effective options include Zaca recovery chewables, vitamin C packets, zinc lozenges, and elderberry syrup.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES:
1. Glutathione Benefits
https://draxe.com/nutrition/glutathione/
2. Prickly Pear: What Benefits Does This Cactus Carry?
https://www.slurrp.com/article/prickly-pear--what-benefits-does-this-cactus-carry--1626347336866
3. Glutamine: Metabolism and Immune Function, Supplementation and Clinical Translation
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6266414/
4. Fruits extracts of Hovenia dulcis Thunb. suppresses lipopolysaccharide-stimulated inflammatory responses
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1995764516300177
5. Vitamin C and Immune Function
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5707683/
6. How Vitamin C Supports a Healthy Immune System
https://www.eatright.org/health/essential-nutrients/vitamins/how-vitamin-c-supports-a-healthy-immune-system
7. Synthetic vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, kills beneficial probiotic bacteria in the gut
https://www.naturalnews.com/040147_vitamin_c_ascorbic_acid_synthetic_vitamins.html
8. How Alcohol Weakens Your Immune System
https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/alcohol/how-does-alcohol-weaken-immune-system
9. Exercise And Your Immune System
https://www.gundersenhealth.org/health-wellness/move/exercise-and-your-immune-system
10. 7 Ways to Boost Your Immune System Naturally
https://www.scripps.org/news_items/7534-7-ways-to-boost-your-immune-system-naturally
11. Intermittent Fasting Immune System: The Boosting Effects of Fasting
https://drstephenanton.com/intermittent-fasting-immune-system/
12. Zaca - Travel Supplement & Best Immune Booster For Travel
https://zacalife.com/blogs/blog/travel-supplement
