Tips for Strengthening Immunity & Staying Healthy When Traveling

Medically reviewed by Next Health Clinical Director, Jessica Brewer

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How To Stay Healthy While Traveling

Did you know research shows that you are a hundred times more likely to catch a cold on an airplane than in your everyday life? 

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Plus, when traveling, we are more likely to go out, sleep less, and indulge in inflammatory foods, which also increases the chances of falling ill from a bug or virus. 

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To help you avoid getting sick on vacation, we have compiled a list of ways you can support your immune defenses, so you can make the most of your getaway: 

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Support Nose & Throat Health 

We breathe in millions of particles a day, all of which enter our bodies through the nose or throat. To avoid a potential pathogen compromising your health via your airways, you can utilize a variety of natural, high-quality nose and throat sprays: 

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Bee Propolis Throat Spray:

Researchers have identified more than 300 compounds in propolis. The majority of these compounds are forms of polyphenols, which are antioxidants that can fight pathogens and oxidative stress in the body. Propolis is thought to have antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, but the research on propolis is limited. However, it is clear that bee propolis provides some protection from some bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

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Bee Keeper’s Natural offers a great throat spray that contains powerful immune-boosting compounds. 

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Colloidal Silver Nasal Spray: 

Colloidal silver has been gaining recognition as a potentially powerful immune booster. A 2012 study conducted by Larry C. Ford, M.D. from the UCLA School of Medicine found that colloidal silver has the ability to kill over 650 bacteria, fungi, parasites, and molds. In fact, this study showed that the silver was able to suffocate certain pathogens within six minutes of contacting it. 

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All of these products can easily fit in your carry-on and are an easy way to continue to support your immunity as you travel. 

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Prioritize Sleep 

You cannot underestimate the power of sleep when it comes to immunity. Experts recommend prioritizing rest the night before your trip, but valuing rest at your destination is equally important. This is particularly true if you are changing time zones. 

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The key to fighting jet lag is not taking a sleeping pill on the flight and then forcing yourself to stay awake with lots of activities when you arrive at your destination, rather the key is exposing yourself to natural light. If you arrive at your destination after sunset, make sure you are up with the sunrise to realign your circadian rhythm, plus, rising early allows more time to make the most of your trip. 

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Immune-Boosting Foods 

When traveling, many of us enjoy treating ourselves to delicious meals, which often may not be the healthiest. Consider incorporating some of these immune-boosting meals into your vacation diet to support a robust immune system: 

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Strawberries 

A rich source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that supports immune function and the production of white blood cells, strawberries are a great addition to your summer diet. 

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Oranges 

Oranges are the most well-known source of vitamin C and are a common immune-boosting food. Oranges are also rich in fiber, which helps balance blood sugar levels, reduce high cholesterol, and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. 

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Lemon 

Another citrus rich in vitamin C, lemons contain about 31 grams of vitamin C, which is nearly double the amount needed in your daily diet. Lemons are also known to support metabolic function, reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease, and more. 

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Watermelon 

Incredibly hydrating, watermelon is light on the digestive system and contains one of the most powerful antioxidants, glutathione. Glutathione is nicknamed the “Master Antioxidant” because it helps raise the body’s overall levels of antioxidants in order to combat inflammation and boost immunity. 

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Tip: to get the most glutathione out of your watermelon, eat the red pulpy section close to the rind. 

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Elderberry 

Often called an “old folk remedy” elderberry has been utilized for its health-enhancing nutrients for hundreds of years. Because it contains high levels of antioxidants, elderberries have been shown to block flu viruses in lab studies. 

To read more about immune-boosting foods, click here. 

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How To Overcome Jet Lag: Next-Level Supplementation & IV Therapy 

All the foods listed above are a great start to getting your body the vitamins and nutrients it needs to maintain healthy defenses against viruses. However, given that 90% of Americans suffer from at least one vitamin deficiency, you may need to fill in the gaps in your diet with supplementation.

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Below are some of the top immune-boosting supplements: 

• Vitamin D 
• Glutathione 
• Probiotic 
• NAD+ 
• Vitamin C 
• Zinc 

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Please note, all of these supplements are also available on FullScript.  

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For those looking for next-level supplementation, you can empower your body to prepare or recover from travel with IV Therapy. 

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Next Health’s Super Immune IV is perfect for those looking to stay healthy and enhance their immune function. This custom IV supercharges your immune defenses with a potent combination of vitamin C, magnesium, vitamin B5, antivirals, and other essential vitamins and minerals that will prepare your immune system to take on any bug or virus it comes up against. The Super Immune IV also helps clear your body of free radicals, which cause oxidative stress.

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Plus, all IV Therapy Drips at Next Health include a multivitamin base, also known as the Myers’ Cocktail, plus a powerful blend of hydrating electrolytes, vitamins, amino acids, & more. 

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Next Health offers IV Therapy in a clean, comfortable, and vibrant atmosphere. Instead of the traditional IV experience in a cold and clinical environment, our modern and vibrant IV Lounge is equipped with lounge chairs, massage chairs, free Wi-Fi, charging stations, and complimentary beverages. Our IVs are administered by one of our Registered Nurses on-site.

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You can also enjoy IV Therapy when traveling at Next Health’s Four Seasons Resort Maui location from our Ocean-View IV Lounge. 

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Replenish, recharge, and rehydrate in a tropical paradise. Your immune system will thank you. 

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View our full IV Menu 

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Stay Hydrated 

Approximately 60% of our body is water, which is why staying hydrated is important for every bodily function. However, 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated, which means many of us are not functioning optimally. 

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Hydration specifically supports immunity by helping carry oxygen to your immune cells, helping them carry out necessary functions. Moreover, water helps remove toxins from the body. When we experience a buildup of toxins, we trigger inflammation, an immune response, which compromises the body’s ability to deal with other tasks such as fighting off invaders. 

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Drinking six to eight glasses of water every day can improve immunity, memory, sleep, digestion, and so much more. 

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How To Avoid Jet Lag: Spend Time Outside 

Enjoying the summer sun and fresh air is linked to numerous mental and physical health benefits. In fact, cortisol levels (the stress hormone) are shown to drop by approximately 20% when we spend time in nature. High levels of cortisol are a sign of chronic stress, and a known immune inhibitor. 

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Given that, on average, we spend 90% of our time indoors, taking some time on your lunch break or after work to step outside and enjoy the sun is a fun and easy way to boost immunity. 

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Plus, getting outside can help alleviate or prevent a vitamin D deficiency. Approximately 90% of Americans are deficient in vitamin D. A vitamin D deficiency is often the cause of common health concerns such as getting sick often, hair loss, dry skin, getting sick often, depression symptoms, and even heart problems. 

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Vitamin D is a critical building block in immune function as it helps regulate the activity of immune cells responsible for antiviral responses. This vitamin also binds to the receptors of immune cells (neutrophils, macrophages, and natural killer cells) in order to activate an effective immune response to pathogens. 

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Thymosin Alpha-1: The Immune-Boosting Peptide 

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Peptide Therapy is becoming increasingly popular in the United States as it is a safe and effective way to target specific health goals such as staying healthy and supporting a robust immune system. 

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Peptides are chains of amino acids that act as precise messenger signals in the body that improve cellular function. As a result, they can help enhance various bodily responses such as healing bone and muscle, losing weight, enhancing growth hormone production, treating insomnia, and weight loss. 

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There are over 7,000 known naturally occurring peptides that are produced in the human body that aid in cellular function, and they can now be produced at an advanced compounding pharmacy. 

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One of the most commonly used peptides is Thymosin Alpha 1. This peptide has been well researched for its immune-boosting properties. Made in the thymus, the gland in our body responsible for generating our immune system, Thymosin Alpha 1 is a critical protein messenger that is involved in the proliferation of your T cells (which combat pathogens and viruses). In fact, this peptide is often prescribed to prevent viral, bacterial, and even fungal infections. 

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Because certain types of T cells fight cancer, Thymosin Alpha 1 has been shown to have anti-cancer properties in some studies. Thymosin Alpha 1 may also combat signs of aging by slowing the age-related deterioration of the immune system and other bodily processes. 

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Key benefits of Thymosin Alpha 1 include: boosting immunity, combatting inflammation, and anti-cancer & anti-aging properties. 

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Next Health Peptides are medical-grade and ship as a 30-day supply straight to your front door, meaning you can travel with your peptides to continually boost your immunity throughout your vacation. 

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Order your 30-day supply here 

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Next Level Immune-Boosting Services 

Have questions about more ways to boost immunity or are interested in checking out some of our advanced immune-boosting services such as Ozone Therapy, call or text us at: (310) 295-2075. 

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Our wellness team will get back to you in a timely manner and ensure you have a seamless wellness experience at Next Health. 

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Request a complimentary consult here

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Sources 

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1711611115#ref-12 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6335834/ 

http://beforeitsnews.com/health/2012/07/ucla-medical-test-on-colloidal-silver-water-2444096.html 

https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/ss/slideshow-immune-foods

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