The holidays are just around the corner, and in a normal year, that means travel for loads of people. Of course, this year is different, as the pandemic has put a kink in the travel plans of many a family. In fact, a new report says 21 percent of those who would normally travel for the holidays are planning on staying put this year. But 39 percent are still making the trip.<1>
If this is your first long-distance trip in a long time, you may be excited to get the party started. But first you need to pack. What should you stash in your car or carry-on? We have a few suggestions:
- Masks, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes: Obviously.
- Face shield: Experts disagree on how dangerous plane travel is. But there’s evidence that doubling up with a mask and face shield brings your chance of infection close to zero.<2>
- Snacks for the road: Nuts, hard-boiled eggs, popcorn, apples, peanut butter, and precut carrot and celery sticks all travel well. If you’re traveling by car, minimizing stops for food is smart for both your safety and your sanity.
- Reusable water bottles: So you’re not littering the car (or the environment) with heaps of plastic.
- Games for the backseat crew: Sure, the older ones have their phones, but playing something together can build family memories.
- Extra chargers: You know someone is going to lose one. (You may even know who.)
- First aid kit: Just in case.
- Eye mask and earplugs: If you’re going to bed down in an unfamiliar place, these essentials can help you get a good night’s rest so you can stay in the holiday spirit.
- Travel pillow: Because sleeping on a plane is plain tough.
- Ice scraper: If you’re going to be driving through the white and drifted snow.
- Sunscreen and bug spray: If you’re going somewhere more tropical. (Lucky you!)
- A box of Flora’s Travel Care Probiotic: Oh, not obvious? Let us explain.
Nothing spoils a holiday trip like digestive distress. Unfortunately, being out of your familiar environs can play havoc with your gut. When the percentage of helpful bacteria in your gut falls below 85 percent, you may find yourself vulnerable to all sorts of afflictions, including a case of the runs.
Introducing extra friendly bacteria to your system can help prevent this unpleasant scenario. The rub is that many probiotics need to be refrigerated — not exactly convenient when you’re on the go. (Unless you’re traveling in a limo with a mini fridge, but we bet you’re not.) Flora’s Travel Care Probiotic is shelf-stable, which means you can take it wherever you go, fridge limo or no.
Travel Care is a clinically tested, single-strain of probiotic yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii CNCM I-1079), chosen for its ability to retain its potency at room temperature and survive and colonize your gut like a champ. That means it will move in and make your gut home, instead of just paying it a short visit, the way a lot of probiotics do.
- Provides 5 billion cells of probiotics per capsule
- Helps reduce the chance you’ll come down with traveler’s diarrhea*
- Helps prevent diarrhea associated with taking common remedies*
- Promotes overall gastrointestinal health*
- Comes packaged in convenient, shelf-stable blister packs
- Resists destruction by bile and gastric acid
- Is vegetarian, gluten-free, non-dairy, and non-GMO
Flora’s line of shelf-stable probiotics also includes:
- Complete Care: For daily support of digestive and immune health*
- Women’s Care: For supporting women’s digestive and vaginal health*
All these probiotics will live happily in your luggage, so they can hit the road when you do. Happy (and healthy) trails! Flora is offering you a 15% savings on all Shelf-Stable Probiotics right now, simply apply the code TRAVEL15 at checkout.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
References
<1> https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/advice/2020/10/24/holiday-travel-forecast-expect-more-traffic-on-the-road-at-airports/3740502001/
<2> https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/10/24/lifestyle/drive-fly-stay-home-hard-decisions-behind-pandemic-holiday-gatherings/
