Thyroid-healthy Travel Essentials

When you have a chronic thyroid condition, it can take quite a bit of self-care, careful eating, supplements, meds, and diligent routines just to feel normal. Travel has a way of turning those thyroid-healthy habits and routines on their ear. This can make our bodies go a little haywire-- or, depending on the distance of the trip, a LOT haywire. 

When we travel, we eat strange foods, drink strange water (or not enough water), sleep in strange beds, and poop in strange toilets. Even for the thriving-est among us, travel can throw a wrench in our gears, aggravating common hypothyroid symptoms like constipation, fatigue, anxiety, hair shedding, brain fog-- the WORKS! 

In this blog post and episode of Thyroid-healthy Bites, I will share my Top 10 Thyroid-healthy Travel Essentials. These are the things I never leave home without. They help me stay energized, rested, hydrated, calm, and, yup, regular while on the road. If you are a Thyroid Thriver and are preparing for a trip, you're going to want to read, watch, or listen to this so that you can feel your best and enjoy your travels. 

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Disclaimer: This information is for educational and inspirational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers before making changes to your diet, health care, or exercise regimen.

10 Things I Never Leave Home Without!

You can find all these products and more in the Hypothyroid Chef Favorites Store or my Amazon Travel Favorites Store!

1. Ultima Replenisher Electrolyte Drink Mix

A daily scoop of this in my water bottle and I'm energized and hydrated without stimulants or sugar. Ultima is stevia-sweetened and calorie-free and contains 6 electrolytes and trace minerals. Choose from several different flavors like cherry pomegranate, pink lemonade, watermelon, or blue raspberry. I usually go for lemon or grape. For travel, you can purchase a small canister or their convenient stick packs. 

2. Pique Tea Crystals. 5% OFF code: THYROID5

I am totally hooked on these health-promoting teas, which are also extremely travel-friendly. These individual packets of tea crystals can be added to hot or cold water for an instant beverage. The best part is that Pique's Teas contain up to 12x the antioxidants and polyphenols as regular tea. Their cold-brew crystallization process preserves the active compounds in these “superplants,”  which are used at their maximum potential. They're also triple-toxin screened for things like pesticides, mold, and heavy metals.

My personal faves: Sun Goddess Matcha (I drink this daily), Ginger Digestion Elixir, Mint Green, Passion Fruit Green, Hibiscus Beauty Elixir, Electric Turmeric, and Earl Grey.  

3. ThinkSport Sunblock SPF 50+

Think Sport is my go-to sunblock. It's reef-safe, clean, non-toxic, and benzene-free. It also doesn't leave as much of a thick white residue as other zinc-based sunblocks do. Most importantly, it works and lasts for hours in or out of the water. I typically stock up on the 6-ounce tubes for my family, as well as their SPF 30 sunscreen stick. My kiddo has an easier time with the stick when doing his own face. They also make a 3-ounce size in case you need to pack light. 

4. Ancient Minerals Magnesium Lotion

I discovered this treasure (thanks to a recommendation from a friend) when I was recovering from shoulder surgery and dealing with a lot of sore and tight muscles. It's fragrance-free, uses certified organic oils, and is highly rated by EWG as a clean, non-toxic product.

Magnesium helps soothe muscles, calms, and relaxes us, so this lotion is wonderful to rub on any sore spots before bed or to apply at night while traveling to ensure a peaceful and pain-free rest. Ancient Minerals topical magnesium also comes in a gel or oil, but I prefer the lotion, which rubs on smooth and doesn't leave a residue. Once applied, you can immediately feel it working its calming magic. 

5. Natural Vitality CALM Magnesium Drink (or Gummies)

I've been using CALM for years for relaxation, better sleep, muscle aches, and regularity. I never travel or go camping without it. Constipation is a common frustration while away from home, as is poor sleep. CALM checks both boxes as a fizzy, drinkable magnesium supplement. The raspberry-lemon flavor is tasty and stevia-sweetened, but you can also get the unflavored variety to add to your evening tea.

For travel, try their convenient single-serve packets or their chewable gummies. It may take some experimenting to find the right dosage, so start small and work your way up. For me, one scant teaspoon of the drink powder or two chewable gummies is just right for a good night's rest and regularity. 

Further Reading: Travel-Friendly Foods & Tips for Thyroid Thrivers

6. Organic India Tulsi Tea: Original & Sleep Blend

Tulsi, also known as Holy Basil, is an adaptogenic herb that helps our bodies cope with and "adapt" to stress of all kinds, including travel. Organic India's Tulsi Original tea is great for calming the nerves without sedation or grogginess-- a huge travel help for nervous flyers or anyone feeling a little anxious about travel. At home, I try to enjoy a cup daily for adrenal support and stress management. 

Their Sleep Blend contains other adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha and bedtime herbs like chamomile. I always travel with a few bags of Tulsi Sleep because I find it helps me relax and sleep through the night without leaving me feeling weird, groggy, or 'hungover' the next day, like other herbal sleepytime teas can. 

7. Just Thrive Probiotic. 15% OFF code: THYROID15.

One of the best preventive measures we can take to protect ourselves and avoid GI distress while traveling is to take a good probiotic. I've tried many pharmaceutical-grade probiotics over the years, but if I had to pick one favorite, it's Just Thrive, hands down. There are four main reasons I love and recommend this brand.

First, as mentioned, it's pharmaceutical grade. Many over-the-counter probiotics simply don't work or aren't potent enough to get the job done. Second, these probiotics are spore-based, which means they have a high degree of built-in protection that helps them survive things like shipping, various temperatures, and the digestive system. In other words, these don't need to be refrigerated and are more travel-friendly and effective than more delicate probiotics. Third, Just Thrive's patented strain,  Bacillus indicus HU36, sparks the production of antioxidants in the gut where they can be well absorbed. Finally, while potent, this brand has not given my husband or me any undesired side effects that high-potency, pharmaceutical-grade probiotics can sometimes cause, like gas, bloating, or other GI issues. Nobody wants that while traveling!

8. Beekeepers B.Immune Propolis Throat Spray. 15% OFF code: THYREF

Staying healthy is one of the challenges of traveling. Viral exposure is often higher, while at the same time, we're often tired, not sleeping as well, and our defenses are down. That's why I travel with my B.Immune Propolis Throat Spray from Beekeeper's.

Propolis is a natural resin created by bees, which also has medicinal properties. It's antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. 

We Thyroid Thrivers deal with more throat-related symptoms like hoarseness or dry, scratchy throats. This throat spray can be especially helpful when heading to higher elevations or dryer climates to keep our throats soothed and well-lubricated. 

B.Immune is one of my favorite preventive immune-boosting measures because it tastes great and keeps my throat happy. At home, I also love their B.Powered Superfood Honey for a caffeine-free afternoon pick-me-up. 

9. Kiss My Face Triple Action Fluoride-Free Toothpaste

Fluoride is a known thyroid suppressant that was once used to treat hyperthyroidism (an over-active thyroid). In other words, it's not something we really want to be putting on our highly absorbent oral tissues every day.  Finding a good, fluoride-free toothpaste for daily use and travel is a Thyroid Thriver's essential, but this can be a needle-in-a-haystack search.

When it comes to fluoride-free toothpaste, I've tried them all, and most of them...no, thank you. Kiss My Face Triple action is the fluoride-free gel I keep coming back to for fresh breath, nice foaming action, and clean ingredients that keep my teeth and gums healthy without being abrasive. It uses aloe, xylitol, and tea tree oil. I've been using this brand for several years now, with A+ checkups from my dentist and oral hygienist who report healthy gums, strong enamel, little to no tartar buildup, a bright smile, and no cavities! 

10. Epic Filtered Water Bottles. 20% OFF code: HYPOCHEF

Another Thyroid Thriver's Travel essential is clean, filtered water. Ideally, we want a filter that removes chlorine and fluoride-- 2 known thyroid suppressants. One option when traveling is to rely on bottled water, but that's a lot of single-use plastic and BPA exposure-- no thanks. But what if there was a way to filter our water on the go?

Thanks to Epic Water Filters out of Boulder, CO, we can do just that. Epic's filter bottles remove 99.99% of the contaminants in tap water (including chlorine) and come in glass, stainless, or BPA-free plastic. Just pop one of their filters on the end of the straw, and you can fill up anywhere. They even make a backcountry filter so you can drink from wilderness water sources-- cool. 

If you're looking for an at-home solution, the Epic Pure Water Pitcher or Tank Dispenser removes chlorine and fluoride and is relatively affordable compared to reverse-osmosis systems. This is the one I currently use at home. 

Okay, Thyroid Thrivers! I hope these recommendations help make your next trip a little easier on your bod, free of symptoms, and more fun. Bon voyage!

P.S. You can find all these products and more in the Hypothyroid Chef Favorites Store!

P.P.S. Find even MORE travel essentials in my Amazon Travel Faves Store!