Travelers should pop zinc and vitamin C two hours before arriving at crowded transit hubs like airports and bus terminals, in response to Wyoming-based hospital physician Dr. Steve Burgess.
Airplanes, trains, and buses pack many people into enclosed spaces with recirculated air, and adding the stress of travel, interrupted sleep and exposure to latest environments creates the “perfect storm” of conditions to weaken the immune system.
Taking the germ-blasting supplements inside the crucial window is a critical component that always goes ignored and offers your immune system a targeted boost to battle a bug when it needs it most, explained Burgess, who often sees physicians fall in poor health on the medical conferences he leads for CME Vacations.
“Consider it like putting up your umbrella right before walking into the rain, slightly than waiting until you’re already soaked,” he said. “These supplements temporarily enhance certain immune functions, but that enhancement only lasts for a number of hours.”
For long journeys with connections, consider taking one other dose before each latest flight or train ride, the doc added, but inside reason.
“I’ve seen many common misconceptions amongst travelers — from mega-dosing vitamins throughout entire trips to exclusively blaming airplane air quality while ignoring surface contact,” said Burgess.
Zinc helps prevent viruses from multiplying and infecting the respiratory tract, and even has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may protect against autoimmune diseases and allergies.
Taking zinc inside 24 hours of onset may also help reduce the duration and severity of colds, studies show.
One other tip is to take zinc lozenges slightly than tablets. The lozenges give the mighty mineral direct contact with the throat and respiratory tract, where many infections begin.
Vitamin C boosts various cellular functions of the immune system that help prevent infections.
“It doesn’t require expensive supplements or complicated regimens,” Burgess noted. “Just common, inexpensive supplements taken at precisely the appropriate time.”
He recommends taking 15 to 25 milligrams of zinc and 500 to 1000 milligrams of vitamin C.
Constant high doses could cause digestive issues, he added, and hand washing stays essential.
Also, keeping hydrated will help the supplements work more effectively and counters the dehydrating effects of flying.
His suggestions come as a record-breaking 45 million-plus people will travel at the least 50 miles from home over Memorial Day Weekend, many by plane, train, bus and on cruises, AAA announced this week.
Travelers should pop zinc and vitamin C two hours before arriving at crowded transit hubs like airports and bus terminals, in response to Wyoming-based hospital physician Dr. Steve Burgess.
Airplanes, trains, and buses pack many people into enclosed spaces with recirculated air, and adding the stress of travel, interrupted sleep and exposure to latest environments creates the “perfect storm” of conditions to weaken the immune system.
Taking the germ-blasting supplements inside the crucial window is a critical component that always goes ignored and offers your immune system a targeted boost to battle a bug when it needs it most, explained Burgess, who often sees physicians fall in poor health on the medical conferences he leads for CME Vacations.
“Consider it like putting up your umbrella right before walking into the rain, slightly than waiting until you’re already soaked,” he said. “These supplements temporarily enhance certain immune functions, but that enhancement only lasts for a number of hours.”
For long journeys with connections, consider taking one other dose before each latest flight or train ride, the doc added, but inside reason.
“I’ve seen many common misconceptions amongst travelers — from mega-dosing vitamins throughout entire trips to exclusively blaming airplane air quality while ignoring surface contact,” said Burgess.
Zinc helps prevent viruses from multiplying and infecting the respiratory tract, and even has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may protect against autoimmune diseases and allergies.
Taking zinc inside 24 hours of onset may also help reduce the duration and severity of colds, studies show.
One other tip is to take zinc lozenges slightly than tablets. The lozenges give the mighty mineral direct contact with the throat and respiratory tract, where many infections begin.
Vitamin C boosts various cellular functions of the immune system that help prevent infections.
“It doesn’t require expensive supplements or complicated regimens,” Burgess noted. “Just common, inexpensive supplements taken at precisely the appropriate time.”
He recommends taking 15 to 25 milligrams of zinc and 500 to 1000 milligrams of vitamin C.
Constant high doses could cause digestive issues, he added, and hand washing stays essential.
Also, keeping hydrated will help the supplements work more effectively and counters the dehydrating effects of flying.
His suggestions come as a record-breaking 45 million-plus people will travel at the least 50 miles from home over Memorial Day Weekend, many by plane, train, bus and on cruises, AAA announced this week.
