Good news!
My partner and I are heading to Mexico for a weeklong vacation in the sun.
Taking a vacation can be full of fun and adventure. They are great for our mind but can be a bit taxing on our bodies. I definitely don’t love coming back from vacation and feeling like I need another few days just to recover from the time off. Thankfully, there are a few things we can use during travel to ensure that we can enjoy those late-nights and delicious indulgent meals without missing a beat.
Today I want to tell you about a few supplements and products that I will be bringing to Mexico. I generally bring most of these on all of our trips.
Grayl Ultralight Purifier
This first one is a bit specific to Mexico although now that I have it, I’m excited to use it on all of our adventures.
“Don’t drink the water in Mexico!” I think we have all probably heard this before.
I’ll be honest, I tend to spiral when it comes to the thought of getting food poisoning or a parasite. But I really don’t want to be worrying the whole time about the food and water I’m drinking and miss out on the lovely Mexican culture. That’s where this water purifier comes in.
Most people recommend buying bottled water while in Mexico but I wanted a more sustainable choice as I’m making a conscious effort to reduce single-use plastic in my life. The Grayl water bottle was my answer. From their website: “With [ONE PRESS], the Ultralight offers the ultimate protection against pathogens (viruses, bacteria, protozoa), particulates, chemicals, and heavy metals.”
Works for me.
Silver Fern Ulitmate Probiotic and Oil of Oregano (A.D.P from Biotics)
These two products are all about gut health. Having a healthy microbiome full of good bacteria is so important. If we have a healthy gut we are better able to fight off infections from viruses and bad bacteria-whether it’s airborne or in the food or water we consume. Eating fiber-rich plant foods is one of the best things you can do to maintain a healthy gut. When you want something a little extra, a high-quality probiotic is a wonderful option.
I went with Silver Fern probiotics because the strains they use have been very well researched. They have been shown to improve the health of the gut (great for people with IBS, Crohn’s, etc.) and help prevent infection from nasty bacteria. Their products are spore-forming which means they are guaranteed to survive through the acidic environment of your stomach and end up in your intestines where they belong. That means you aren’t wasting your money! This also means they don’t require refrigeration which is important since these will be traveling with us.
Next up is oil of oregano. This is something we will take in the event that we do eat or drink something that has been contaminated. oil of oregano is a powerful natural antibiotic. It’s also anti-fungal and anti-parasitic. From Biotics: their Oil of Oregano provides “biologically active phenolic compounds including Carvacrol and Thymol, for proven antimicrobial activity against gut dysbiosis, toxic bowel syndrome, candida, intestinal parasites, yeast fungus, and upper respiratory bacterial or viral infections.”
It should be noted that Oil of Oregano is not something that should be consumed daily. Like I said it is powerful. It is recommended that it not be consumed more than 7 days in a row and should only be used therapeutically.
*Note: Biotics requires a professional account to order through them. Here are two other great options for oil of oregano. Gaia Herbs and Natural Factors.
Ashwagandha, B-Vitamin Complex, and Vitamin-CĀ
These three supplements are all about supporting the adrenals. The adrenal glands are some of the main players responsible for regulating our stress response through hormone regulation. They play a huge role in our immune system and energy levels. Basically, when we are stressed, our adrenals become stressed and our health can suffer.
We all know travel can be pretty stressful on our bodies thanks to hours in cars, racing to make your flight on time, and consuming a bit more sugar or alcohol than we generally do. That’s why I recommend taking supplements that support the adrenals while traveling or as needed.
Ashwagandha is one of my favorite herbs. It’s an adaptogen which essentially means it helps the body react to physical, mental, and emotional stress in a healthy way by strengthening the immune system. Ashwagandha supports the adrenal glands in maintaining normal levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
B-vitamins also play a role in healthy adrenal function, energy production, and blood sugar regulation. You all know I prefer to get my nutrients from food. Plant-foods are rich in b-vitamins with the exception of B-12. Side-note – be sure you are taking a B-12 supplement if you don’t consume any animal products. Read more about that here. Since we will likely not be eating as healthy as we might at home – although we will do our best – I decided to bring along a b-complex to ensure we are getting what we need to keep our energy levels up.
The adrenal gland is one of the organs with the highest concentration of vitamin C in the body. Vitamin C isn’t just great for the immune system. It plays many roles including acting as an antioxidant and modulating the stress response in our bodies. During physical, mental, or emotional stress, vitamin C is used up in the body very quickly. This is why it’s important to be sure you are getting extra vitamin C during times of stress. Fruits and veggies are king here.Ā But for our trip, I’m bringing the Pure Synergy whole-food based vitamin C powder. It’s a better option than just ascorbic acid because it contains all the bioflavonoids the body needs to fully metabolize and use the vitamin C.
*Note: Besides Biotics, I recommend these B-vitamin products. MyKind Organics B-12 and Country Life B-complex
Eye mask, Sleepy Nights Tincture, and Magnesium Oil
Sometimes sleeping in a different bed can keep you up at night thanks to the different sounds and lights we aren’t used to.
I sleep with an eye mask every night because our room at home is a bit bright and complete darkness is best for promoting good sleep. I take this on all my trips.
Next up, is the Sleepy Nights tincture from Wishgarden Herbs. I like to keep this on hand for nights when my mind just won’t quiet down or I’m just not feeling sleepy when I should be. I like this tincture because it’s a mix of a few herbs that slowly help you relax and fall to sleep. It’s not a sedative or habit-forming. They don’t include valerian root in it even though it’s well known for inducing sleep. I’ve taken valerian and it definitely puts you to sleep, but I also notice it makes me feel pretty groggy the next morning. I don’t get that from Sleepy Nights.
Finally, I love magnesium oil. Honestly, I don’t need to use this much but I’m happy that I have it when I need help relaxing my body. (Ladies, it really helps reduce menstrual cramps). This oil is a transdermal form so I just mix it with some lotion and rub it into my skin (this helps reduce any stinging or itchiness that can happen since it’s a salty spray.) Magnesium helps to relax the mind and the body. I like to rub it in on my shoulder, neck, and lower back where I hold the most tension.
I hope these tips help you on your next trip.
I’d love to hear about it!
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10815019
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4030608/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15666839
