Health expert reveals the perfect moment to take supplements for maximum protection
Key Points:
- Health expert reveals the simple yet effective method to prevent getting sick while travelling for vacation or business
- Dr. Burgess explains how proper timing of immune-boosting supplements can significantly reduce your chances of falling ill during travel
- Expert warns many travellers make key mistakes with supplement timing that leave them vulnerable to illness
As travel season kicks into high gear, millions of Americans will soon be packing their bags for long-awaited vacations, business trips, and adventures. Yet the joy of these journeys is often dampened by an unwelcome souvenir: illness. From respiratory infections to stomach bugs, getting sick while travelling is an all-too-common experience that can ruin even the most meticulously planned trip.
“The irony is that the very environments we pass through when travelling are designed to maximise our exposure to pathogens,” explains Dr. Steve Burgess, CEO and founder of CME Vacations, a company that specialises in organising Continuing Medical Education conferences in vacation destinations for healthcare professionals.
What makes Dr. Burgess’s approach different is his focus on precision timing rather than just what supplements to take. And his method is surprisingly simple – but most travellers get it completely wrong.
Why We Get Sick When Travelling
Before revealing Dr. Burgess’s trick, it’s important to understand why we’re more susceptible to illness while travelling. Aeroplanes, trains, and buses pack numerous people into enclosed spaces with recirculated air. Add in the stress of travel, disrupted sleep patterns, and exposure to new environments, and you have the perfect conditions for your immune system to weaken.
“Travel creates a perfect storm of immune challenges,” Dr. Burgess explains. “You’re exposed to more pathogens than usual, while simultaneously experiencing conditions that compromise your immune system’s ability to fight them off.”
Most travellers attempt to counteract this by taking immune-boosting supplements randomly throughout their trip, or worse, waiting until they already feel the first symptoms of illness.
The Immune Timing Trick
Dr. Burgess’s genius method is remarkably straightforward: Take zinc and Vitamin C supplements approximately 1-2 hours before boarding your flight or entering other crowded travel spaces like busy terminals or packed trains.
“The timing is what makes this approach so effective,” Dr. Burgess says. “Most people either take supplements on a regular schedule regardless of exposure, or they wait until they’re already feeling sick. Both approaches miss the critical window when protection is most needed.”
By taking zinc and Vitamin C shortly before entering high-exposure environments, you’re essentially giving your immune system a targeted boost exactly when it needs it most.
Why This Timing Method Works
The science behind this approach is sound. Zinc helps prevent viruses from multiplying and taking hold in your respiratory tract, while Vitamin C supports various cellular functions of the immune system.
“Think of it like putting up your umbrella right before walking into the rain, rather than waiting until you’re already soaked,” says Dr. Burgess. “These supplements temporarily enhance certain immune functions, but that enhancement only lasts for a few hours.”
Studies have shown that zinc can help reduce the duration and severity of cold symptoms when taken within 24 hours of onset. By taking it preventatively before exposure, you’re giving your body a head start in the immune response.
How To Implement This Method
For optimal results, Dr. Burgess recommends:
- Use lozenges rather than pills when possible – Zinc lozenges allow the mineral to directly contact the throat and respiratory tract where many infections begin
- Stay hydrated – Drinking plenty of water helps the supplements work more effectively and counters the dehydrating effects of air travel
- Repeat before each high-exposure situation – For long journeys with connections, consider taking another dose before each new flight or train ride
“The beauty of this method is its simplicity,” says Dr. Burgess. “It doesn’t require expensive supplements or complicated regimens. Just common, affordable supplements taken at precisely the right time.”
Dr. Steve Burgess, CEO and founder of CME Vacations, commented:
“What makes this approach different from most travel health advice is that it focuses on the ‘when’, not just the ‘what’. Most people understand they should boost their immune system when travelling, but they miss the vital timing element. Synchronising your immune support with your exposure risk lets you create a protective window exactly when you need it most.
“I’ve seen many common misconceptions among travellers—from megadosing vitamins throughout entire trips to exclusively blaming aeroplane air quality while ignoring surface contact. Neither approach addresses the critical timing component. The constant high doses can cause digestive issues, and obsessing over air quality misses the importance of hand hygiene and timed immune support.
“Through my work organising medical conferences in destinations worldwide, I’ve observed which healthcare professionals tend to stay healthy during travel and which don’t. I’ve noticed that those who time their preventative measures precisely tend to enjoy their trips without interruption from illness. This simple adjustment has helped countless physicians maintain their health through extensive travel schedules.”
