Traveling is something we should all experience whenever our bank accounts and schedules permit it. There’s so much of this beautiful world to see; it would be a shame to skip memorable experiences by not traveling.
Let’s say you find an opportunity to travel. But, how should you prepare for it? Obviously, you need to pack clothes, some gadgets, and other essential items. Don’t forget about your vitamins though!
Taking vitamins while traveling helps you stay in peak physical condition.
With so many spots to hit during your vacation, the last thing you want is to feel under the weather. Take some vitamins to lower the chances of that happening. Flying with vitamins is easy enough.
Throughout this article, we’ve included tips for you so you can easily fly with vitamins on a plane and keep them near to hand on your travels.
Check them out for yourself and see how convenient the whole thing can be!
Tip #1: Do Not Worry about the TSA
Before we get to anything else, let’s discuss the most important topic right away. Can you bring vitamins on a plane?
We know how strict the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) can be when it comes to certain items you take with you on a flight.
It’s fair to wonder if your vitamins and supplements may be flagged during screening. Thankfully, flying with vitamins is not going to be an issue.
According to the TSA, passengers can store their vitamins in both their checked luggage and their carry-on bags. Choose whichever form of luggage is a more convenient carrier of your vitamins.
You can theoretically pack your bag full of vitamins and get cleared, although the TSA agent may have some questions for you first! Do note however that only solid vitamins qualify to be stored in carry-on bags in large amounts.
If the vitamins you’ve brought along are in liquid form, they are subject to the TSA rules and restrictions.
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Tip #2: Leave the Liquid Vitamins at Home or on the Store Shelf
As we noted above, the TSA places restrictions on how much liquid you can carry with you on the plane, so if you rely on a liquid vitamin you may want to look for alternatives for convenience in the security screening process.
They specifically require passengers to place the liquid in a 3.4-ounce container if they want to include it in their carry-on bag. Anything with more volume has to be placed in your checked luggage.
Bringing a liquid item on a flight can lead to you going through a longer screening process.
Is it worth going through the extended screening for your liquid vitamins? That’s up to you to decide.
Personally, I just stick to solid vitamins or gummy vitamins because they are less troublesome to travel with and still give me the benefits I’m looking for. You also don’t have to worry about potential spillage with solid vitamins.
I would recommend leaving the liquid vitamins either at home or on the store shelf if you’re going on vacation. Go for the solid alternatives instead.
See Related: Can You Bring Alcohol on a Plane?
Tip #3: Keep Your Vitamins in Your Carry-On Bag
My next tip for flying with vitamins is to store them in your carry-on bag. Things can get hectic when you’re traveling. Your normal routine gets interrupted and you might forget to do certain things.
By the time you realize you have to take your vitamins, might be the time you also realize that you placed them in your checked luggage. Oops! And what if you make the flight, but your checked luggage doesn’t?
Missing the right time to take your vitamins is not ideal. So, can you take vitamins on a plane? In the cabin? The answer is yes and they should be stored in your carry-on bag, along with any medication you need.
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Tip #4: Use a Special Container to Hold Your Vitamins
Now that you know the answer to the question “can I take vitamins on a plane,” you can now turn your attention to other important matters.
For instance, have you thought about how you will store your vitamins?
While planning your trip, you should consider how you want to store the vitamins inside your carry-on bag. This may be the time for you to invest in a special container.
Products such as this Asija pill container are a great purchase if you intend to go flying with vitamins.
You get a compact leather case that fits easily inside a carry-on. Inside that case are seven smaller containers that can house your daily dose of pills.
The smaller containers even come with two compartments so you can separate the daytime and nighttime dosages if necessary.
I personally prefer this product, but there are other options available. Search online until you find the container that works best for you.
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Tip #5: Purchase Vitamins That Are Packed in Good Containers
Do you want to avoid purchasing an additional container for your vitamin pills? That’s perfectly understandable. Traveling can be expensive so saving whenever you can is a good idea
In lieu of purchasing a special container for your vitamins, you can look for items that are stored in better packaging instead.
These vitamins from Physician’s Choice are stored in fantastic containers. The bottle is capable of keeping its contents at a temperature where they won’t start melting.
Manufacturers even note that you don’t have to refrigerate the vitamins as long as they’re stored in the original bottle. The bottle is quite sturdy and it won’t shatter even as it knocks and jostles around your carry-on.
You can find other vitamins packed in similarly durable containers. Seek them out if you want to make flying with vitamins and supplements easier.
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Tip #6: Look for Hard Vitamins
When traveling, I prefer bringing hard vitamins as much as possible. I’m talking about the ones that you can chew to consume.
The main reason why I prefer those hard vitamins the most is that they are the easiest to bring along. If you’re heading out, you can place those vitamins into a small plastic bag and they will likely remain intact.
Even if the hard vitamins break into smaller pieces, you can still take them. Their efficacy won’t be reduced just because they’ve fractured.
You should bring water along if you’re taking hard vitamins, but you were probably going to do that anyway.
That said, virtually every commercial flight (except VERY short-haul or teeny-tiny flights) will provide water, and your destination likely (hopefully anyway) has water too.
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Tip #7: Choose Your Softgel Vitamins Carefully
Let’s say that your preferred vitamins come in soft gel capsules. Are they still suitable for travel? Can you fly with vitamins if they are of the soft gel variety?
The answer to both of those questions is yes.
The TSA still classifies soft gel capsules as solids so they aren’t subjected to the liquid restrictions. The real issue with vitamins that come in soft gel capsules is the potential of them melting.
If you’re traveling to a tropical tourist destination, your soft gel capsules may start to melt before you reach your lodgings. By the time you’ve checked your bag, the capsules may have congealed into a big, squelchy hunk of vitamin goop.
The solution to that potential problem is to purchase specially formulated soft gel capsules.
Soft gel vitamins like these ones sold by NatureWise may stick together, but they will harden and separate after hitting room temperature again. Shaking the bottle can also dislodge stuck capsules.
So yes, you can take soft gel vitamins with you on vacation but choose them carefully.
Tip #8: Pack Vitamins That Are Water-Soluble
Not everyone can handle capsules and tablets so you may want to consider powdered supplements. I have friends who have long struggled with medication because they have a tough time swallowing their pills or keeping those capsules and tablets down.
The good news is that you can avoid those vitamins without using the liquid alternatives either. Nuun offers water-soluble tablets that can turn an ordinary bottle of water into a sports drink. You just drop the tablet in the water and let it dissolve.
The Nuun vitamins are a great compromise option. You can continue flying with vitamins because they are in tablet form and yet they transform into liquid vitamins too.
Tip #9: Select Vitamins You Don’t Have to Take Too Often
The flight you booked may be a long trip to your destination. For many travelers, that type of flight offers them a chance to catch up on their sleep.
Some people just need that little extra rest time to preserve their energy for when they reach their destinations. If you want to sleep through most of your flight, you should pick up vitamins that allow for that.
You can find vitamins and supplements that only have to be taken twice or even just one time per day. Take them before you nod off and you won’t have to worry about them until the day after.
These vitamins are much more convenient to take if you’re planning to be out and about during your vacation. Get them out of the way early in the morning and proceed with your itinerary!
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Tip #10: Buy Vitamins That Can Supplement Your Physical Performance
We’ve put the question of “can I fly with vitamins” behind us. Now, let’s ask “which vitamins can help us enjoy our vacation more?”
Natural supplements packed with elderberry, magnesium, and vitamin D are the ones you should prioritize if you plan to spend a good chunk of your vacation in the wildetsarness.
Elderberry supplements are recommended because they help boost your immune system; If you’re going to spend hours on the slopes or hiking in damp forests, these natural supplements will help keep your immune system fighting fit.
Magnesium supplements are great to have on hand because they help you regain energy faster.
Take the magnesium supplement before you go to sleep and you’ll have more energy when you wake up. Instead of sleeping off the jet lag in your hotel room, you can start having fun right away with the help of magnesium-infused vitamins.
Magnesium can also help if you have an upset stomach or bowels!
Lastly, vitamin D supplements can unlock the full potential of your body’s physical capabilities. They aid your immune system, your mental health and recovering from physical injuries too.
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Tip #11: Find Multivitamins Containing the Nutrients You Need
Flying with vitamins is not an issue with the TSA, but it can be an issue for you. Space inside your carry-on bag is prime real estate. You don’t want vitamin containers taking up all the available space in there!
To avoid packing vitamins in your carry-on bag, I suggest searching for multivitamins. Multivitamins like these ones sold by Centrum include many of the essential nutrients that adults need and come in pill form.
Those nutrients come bundled together in neat little packages and that makes them ideal for traveling.
It’s worth noting here that multivitamins often feature different compositions.
Take time to look for multivitamins that contain the nutrients you want/need the most. Many of them are available online so the search shouldn’t take too long.
Opting to purchase multivitamins also makes sense financially. They are often priced in the same range as other vitamins so you shouldn’t let cost affect your decision here.
Make your vacation more affordable by buying multivitamins.
Tip #12: Bring an Extra Bottle of Your Preferred Vitamins
Last but not least, I recommend bringing an extra bottle of your preferred vitamins if you’re going on vacation.
This is especially important if you’re heading to a foreign country.
You don’t necessarily know where pharmacies will be located in your vacation destination. If your vitamin stock is low, you may not get the chance to replenish it until you get home.
Vitamins may also be more expensive in your new location. Do you really want to use a chunk of your spending money on potentially overpriced vitamins?
Plus, there’s always the possibility that you may misplace your vitamins somewhere. By keeping one bottle of vitamins in your carry-on luggage and another in your checked luggage, you will always have supplements to spare.
FAQ
Can I bring my vitamins on a plane?
Yes! TSA, the airline company you are flying with, and airport security may potentially want to inspect your vitamins – but they can be carried on in checked baggage with no limitations. Just be sure to place it in a zip-top bag with its identifying information or in its original package.
Can you carry vitamins and OTC medication on a plane?
You can bring vitamins onto the plane but you would need to notify the airline ahead of time. Mostly any medications other than prescription ones are not permitted through security screenings.
The final say, however, is always going to be up to the screening officer’s discretion so it doesn’t hurt to try. It may just come down to how far into your trip you are or if they feel that taking a few pills out of your bag before flying will cause problems in flying if they find them later during screening.
How do I pack vitamins for international travel?
When you are traveling, one of the first questions is how to pack your vitamins. It is important to have a TSA version. If you are taking any prescription medicine, it is best to bring the original box with you. If somebody takes them from you and says they will replace them, but then does not, this can be very bad.
If you drink liquids, make sure you check TSA’s rules before flying. If you are not flying, then it is possible to carry them on board too if they are put in a ziplock bag that is the size of a quart.
Related Resources
- 18 Epic Tips For Stress-Free Travel
- 10 Best Travel Juicers to Stay Healthy on the Go
- 5 Best Portable Nebulizers for Travel
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