Instead or consuming what the airline offers (even if it is paid for) bring your own food, and make it as good or even better than what you eat on a typical day at home. Travel with salads, homemade sandwiches on a hearty whole grain bread, fresh fruit, nuts & seeds, dried fruit, or granola.

Personally, when I travel, I want to be in good health when I reach my destination, whether for work or vacation. I want to arrive home in top form as well. On my recent trip I took a pre-made salad from the natural food store that had fresh baby spinach, pecans, dried cranberries and crumbled blue cheese. It was so flavorful that I never opened or used the salad dressing that came with it.

You should have seen the envious looks on the faces of my fellow passengers as I ate my vibrant green salad, and they the contents of their cardboard snack box. I also took two apples, hummus, and baby carrots. This was more than I needed for my trip across the country, so I was not at all tempted to take anything offered by the flight attendant, other than water.

This brings me to beverages. The air on planes tends to be very dry and drying. It is important to stay well-hydrated. I recommend about 8 ounces of pure water every hour. This is more than you will be offered by the flight attendants so bring some of your own. Coffee and tea are dehydrating so are best avoided or minimized. Sodas are full of sugar and/or chemicals (see my Q & A on sodas) both of which compromise immune function. Alcohol is best avoided on flights as it depresses immune function, leads to fatigue and lethargy, and intensifies jet lag.

One of my favorite supports when traveling by air is Emer'gen- C, a fizzing drink mix full of vitamins and minerals. In addition to 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C, Emer'gen-C has energizing B vitamins, and helps to replace electrolytes. It comes in convienient single serving packets which can be added to a glass, or bottle of water. The fizzy and refreshing nature of Emer'gen-C can easily take the place or desire for a carbonated soda.

A product I only discovered on this most recent trip is one called Airborne. It comes in tablet form which, like an Alka-Seltzer tablet, you drop into a glass of water. Like the Emer'gen-C, Airborne makes a refreshing fizzy drink that combines vitamins with the support of immune supportive herbs such as echinacea. The directions recommend taking Airborne at first sign of a cold, or preventatively as soon as you enter a crowded and confined space such as an airplane.

Have a Great Trip!