Does eating on planes make jet lag worse?

According to experts, not eating while you fly can actually help to reduce jet lag. (And that's not the only thing your flight attendant won't tell you.) Turns out, traveling on a plane can do a lot of bad things to your body—including shutting your digestive system down once you reach a high altitude.



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According to Massimino, regulating light exposure is critical to resetting your circadian rhythms and stopping jet lag in its tracks. “It's a timing issue to reset your circadian clock. So, based on the day-night cycle, when to see light and when to see dark allows you to shift more expeditiously,” he shared.

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How to Get Over Jet Lag?
  1. Be Strategic with Your Light Exposure. ...
  2. Take Melatonin Supplements. ...
  3. Time Your Exercise Right. ...
  4. Time Your Meals Right. ...
  5. Pay Down Sleep Debt and Get in Circadian Alignment Before Your Flight. ...
  6. Maintain Excellent Sleep Hygiene. ...
  7. Start Adjusting Before You Travel. ...
  8. Don't Stress.


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Bananas are another excellent in-flight snack that can help minimize your symptoms of jet lag. Bananas contain magnesium and potassium, which are electrolytes that help your body retain water when you rehydrate. They not only help you feel better but promote a healthy night's sleep, says Carvosso.

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Plane food often is less desirable than the food you can buy at the airport so it's a perfect chance to find something healthy and balanced before you fly. As a rule of thumb, if your flight is less than three hours, then eat at the airport and not on the flight.

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Jet lag made some pilots so tired during the return flight, wrote the scientists, that their fatigue level was said to affect their performance.

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Flying across so many different time zones, especially as frequently as flight attendants do, can cause jet lag, scientifically referred to as desynchronosis, which is a disruption of your body's internal clock and circadian rhythm.

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Our 9 Simple Tips for Avoiding Jet Lag
Make sure you start your trip well-rested. Try to get some sleep on the plane, but only at the time when it's night at your destination. Drink lots of water during the flight. You may want to take it easy on alcoholic drinks and caffeine.

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