It’s probably safe to say that we all want to stay safe and healthy while we’re traveling. Catching a cold or fending off a bout of a stomach bug can put enough of a damper on a trip; add a global pandemic into the mix, and all we can think of is sanitizing our hands and figuring out how to keep our immune systems at their peak.
Now imagine that you’re a mom. You’re not just responsible for yourself while you travel; you have other people depending on you, too. That’s where health supplements can come into play. In addition to routine health screenings and annual physicals, daily supplements are an essential part of health and wellness. Selecting the right herbs, extracts, and oils can go a long way towards giving traveling moms that extra boost. Here’s a packing list of health supplements for vegan moms who love to travel.
The Tried & True Vegan Classics
The first thing out of the gate: don’t forget your B12 supplement. Pretty much all the prominent plant-based doctors will tell you that vegans–and non-vegans, too–should take one. And don’t forget your favorite adaptogens, like tulsi or ashwagandha. Since traveling can put you in the direct path of stress, the boosted brain function, lowered cortisol levels, and better resistance to anxiety that adaptogens are thought to supply can come in handy.
Traveling vegan moms often pack essential oils for aromatherapy while traveling, also. A dab of lavender can help a stressed child relax, and ginger or peppermint oil can help with nausea. If you’re worried about flying with essential oils, don’t be. You should double-check the TSA guidelines before you head to the airport (after all, essential oils can be expensive), but most oils come in 15-milliliter bottles, and the TSA limit is three ounces. So even if you wanted to bring them essential oils in your carry-on, as long as they fit into a one-quart Ziploc bag, you should be fine.
Supplements for Traveling Expecting Mothers
If you’re a vegan expecting mom, you’ll want a few extra supplements in your travel arsenal. One popular brand of vegan prenatal vitamins includes vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E, and K, iron, biotin, zinc, manganese, and others. Don’t forget those nausea-fighting essential oils we talked about in the last section, either. On the other hand, there are some things that you’ll want to avoid taking: The FDA recommends that expecting mothers avoid meal replacement shakes.
Supplements for Older Moms Who Travel
Older moms should talk to their doctor about which supplements they should be taking with them. One of the most common, based on bloodwork, is Vitamin D. This vitamin is especially beneficial for older women who are not exposed to the sun, as in the case of traveling during the winter in the far northern hemisphere. Additional supplements include hot flash relief and menopause, vitamin B6, and acetyl-l-carnitine.
How to Pack Supplements When Traveling
If you’re flying, you might be tempted to pack the bulk of your travel supplements in your checked bag(s). But what happens if they get lost? It’s better to take your supplements with you in your carry-on. Some veteran travelers recommend carrying vitamins in a pillbox, plastic sandwich bag, or Tupperware container, partly to stay organized and partly to avoid carrying a plethora of individual supplement bottles. Other travelers prefer to bring the whole bottle. If you download the TSA app, you can search for items that you can bring with you in carry-on bags. For example, if you search “vitamins,” the app returns the result that they are allowed in both checked and carry-on bags, with the caveat that “the final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether or not the item is allowed through the checkpoint.”
