Can the Jet Lag
February 27th, 2009 by Marina Kosmatos
Aeroplane by
Two different airlines carriers, two stopovers, a constantly crying child on my flight, and just under 24 hours of traveling time, it was these details that almost made me want to stay put in Australia. However, my job at Offbeat Guides is based in San Francisco which means that I have to endure a long distance flight every time I try go anywhere from Australia. I got off my flight feeling sluggish and stale, itching for fresh air and the opportunity to stretch my cramped legs. Feeling jet-lagged and cranky, I went in search of the perfect cure to ease my jet lag.
The strange, silly and the practical:
- This groovy light affected visor pictured above apparently helps you respond to the new daylight time. This ‘combat kit’ comes with a pair of dark glasses for when you are supposed to be avoiding light!
- One tip is to reset your watch to your destination timezone as soon as you board the plane. Then stick with that time frame when you arrive.
- Reading about the Argonne Diet system had my mind and body confused as to what and when I should be eating. It works by alternating “feast” and “fast” days before travelling. “Feast” days consist of three full meals. Breakfast and lunch should be protein high, the evening meal should be high in carbohydrate. “Fast” days are not complete fasts, however very little food of any sort should be eaten. You should remain slightly hungry all day. Alcohol should be avoided during this phase of the diet, caffeine restricted to a little mid-afternoon. On the day of the flight, you break the final “fast” and begin to “reset” the body clock. Start by eating a good breakfast at the time breakfast would be eaten at your destination . Continue to eat meals at the times they would be eaten at your destination and upon arrival, your body should be reasonably synchronised with the new timezone.
- Take a supplementary dose of melatonin, (studies have suggested that melatonin doubles the speed at which your body adjusts to the new time zone) at night before bedtime.
- The amazingly complex StopJetLag plan promotes the cure of jet lag by attempting to regulate your sleeping hours through light therapy, melatonin, the type of food you eat and other treatments in a customized plan for each traveler. And for only US$25! Seems like a lot of work for a condition that is only temporary.
So it seems that there is no easy solution for relieving jet lag, other than ‘not to fly’. But as an avid traveler, I’d take a couple of days of feeling tired, rather than losing the opportunity to explore a new city!
By Marina Kosmatos, Travel Content Curator.
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Not nearly as much as I would like. Of late I typically manage one international or long distance (6+ hour) trip a year. Though I’m hoping to double that at least here soon!
Those are great tips Alex! Do you do a lot of long distance flying?
For me, it’s always come down to 3 fundamental factors which i’ll periodically blog about on the Tips & Tricks section of my travel blog.
Sleep, Food & Water.
If you’re like me (I’m 6’3″) sleep may not exactly be an option for you. When you end up staying up longer, your body consumes more energy and needs more fuel. Combine that with a decrease in circulation, an increase in the number of germs, an increase in stress and potentially major changes in your diet and it’s no wonder jetlag gives our bodies a thorough thumping. Vitamins are an important trick in overcoming or at least reducing jetlack. A lot of people will take their normal dosage or forget vitamins all together. It’s also not just enough to take a normal 1 daily. I like to double my vitamin intake focusing on increasing my B vitamins and Vitamin Cs. Airbourne and other similar products may be largely fluff, but 3 or 4 over the course of a long duration flight does wonders. Especially if you take 2 a day for the 2-3 days immediately following your flight. One other thing to look for is products with Amino Acids in it. You wouldn’t drive from Phoenix, AZ to Los Angeles, CA with 1/3 a tank of gas. Give your body the fuel it needs to keep you healthy. I actually prefer to use a weightlifting powder combo (vitamins, protein and amino acids) and EmergenC when traveling.
Water – one key element when amping up your vitamin intake is upping your water intake. It’ll make sure dangerous buildups don’t occur, and provides another fundamental building block needed for your body to keep you energized and healthy. Getting up every hour to use the restroom may be a pain, but it will make a huge difference. Are your cuticles coming up? Lips chapped? You’re dehydrated. Leave the chapstick at home and listen to your body. Keep hydrated and you’ll have a much easier time with jetlag.
My last suggestion is all about mentally preparing yourself for the change over. As soon as you board your plane set your watch and other time keeping devices to your destination’s time. You’ve got 6+ hours of flight time to start the adjustment process. It sounds silly but I notice a huge difference between flights where I set my watch at the beginning of a flight, instead of at the end of the flight.