The Everyday Guide to Traveling with Vitamins
Traveling is a significant part of many Americans' lives. In fact, according to statistics, American citizens take 93 million international outbound trips each year. And as the number of American travelers continues to grow each year, so does the need for information on how to travel with specific supplements. For some people, traveling is a necessary part of their job. If you are one of these people, you know that being away from home can take a toll on your health. This is especially true if you are not used to the different types of food that are available and the different climates in other countries. One way to make sure that you are getting all of the nutrients that you need while traveling is to take your vitamins with you. However, there are a few things that you need to know before packing your vitamins for a trip.
The TSA Is Not The Enemy
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) doesn't have any restrictions on vitamins or supplements. So you can pack them in your carry-on or checked luggage, and there's no need to declare them at the security checkpoint.
However, it's a good idea to plan out your trip and pack your vitamins in a pill case. This will help you save space and will prevent you from having to carry the whole contianer of vitamins with you. If you are going to be bringing more than a week's worth of pills you may want to keep your pills in the original bottle to avoid any unessesary questioning from the TSA. But as long as you're not carrying anything illegal, there's no need to worry about the TSA when traveling with vitamins.
Be Cautious Of Liquid Vitamins
When it comes to flying with liquids, the TSA has a few regulations in place. If you need your vitamins in your hand luggage, you may only travel with liquids in 3.4-ounce containers or smaller; so it may be worthwhile to look for an alternative if you want to keep your vitamins close by. You can, however, pack larger amounts of liquids into your checked luggage.
You should also be aware of spillages; if you're carrying a lot of vitamins with you, it might be an idea to pack them into a clear, sealable bag so that any spillages are contained inside of the bag and not all over your beautiful holiday outfits.
You're probably better off just ditching the liquid vitamins and sticking to solid or gummy vitamins or pills; they'll be much easier to transport, and you won't have to worry about spillages or TSA restrictions.
Storing Your Vitamins
Seeing as the TSA has no problems with you traveling with vitamins, you can just as well pack them in a vitamin organizer. However, if you are bringing a large number of vitamins, it would be best to leave them in their original bottles. This will make the security process easier for you and the TSA agent.
A vitamin organizer is ideal for any short-term travelers who won't be away from their homes for more than a couple of days. Most pill cases work great as vitamin organizers and have storage space for seven days, and you can even find some that hold up to 14 days' worth of vitamins or day and night slots. In addition, owning a vitamin organizer makes it easier to just grab and go in the morning, rather than having to remember which bottle contains what vitamin.
Vitamin containers come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but one thing you want to make sure of is that they are airtight and moisture-proof. The last thing you want is for your vitamins to get ruined because they were not properly stored. So ensure that you pack your vitamins in zip-top bags, and if you don't have them stored in the original vitamin containers, you will need to ensure that the identifying information is readily available to the TSA agents.
Crossing A Border By Car
If you're driving to another country, it's best to check the regulations for that specific country. Some countries can be strict about what kinds of food and supplements you can bring, so it's always best to be prepared. You don't want to get stopped at the border and have all your vitamins confiscated!
In general, if you're bringing tons of vitamins it's a good idea to keep your vitamins in their original containers or store the identifying information with your vitamin organizer. This way, if you get stopped, you'll have all the documentation you need to prove that your vitamins are legitimate.
You also don't need to worry about any liquid vitamin limitations when traveling by car, so feel free to pack as many bottles as you need. Just be sure to keep them safely stored away so that they don't get jostled around and break open. You will also want to ensure that the bottles of liquid are protected from the sun, as this can cause the vitamins to degrade.
Of course, the best way to avoid any trouble is to research the customs regulations of the country you're visiting before you even start packing. That way, you'll know exactly what to expect and can plan accordingly.
Conclusion
Taking your vitamins along on your travels is a breeze and shouldn't slow you down at all. It's even easier than traveling with many medications. Bringing your daily vitamins is always a good idea as you don't want your immune system to take a knock due to lack of sleep or a change of environment. Hopefully, this article has given you confidence in taking your necessary vitamins with you the next time you travel!