How to prevent jet lag
- by Bethany Sanders (RSS feed) on May 27th 2008 12:00PM
- Filed under miscellaneous, health and wellness, health
Researchers at Harvard Medical School recently discovered what may become the next tool against jet lag -- hunger. Though our natural circadian rhythms typically dictate when we sleep and eat, when mice in the study were withheld food, a "secondary" rhythm took over, allowing the mice to wake up when they would normally be sleeping so that they could eat. Researchers aren't sure if these findings apply to humans or not, but they believe that if people fast before a long flight -- at least 16 hours -- they'll adjust to the time difference more quickly.
If 16 hours seems like far too long to go without a meal to you (for a method that's never been tested on humans), here are some other tips from AskMen.com to compensate for the drastic change in schedule that takes place when you cross multiple time zones. Check them out, after the break.
- Start living by your "new" schedule several days before your trip, to help yourself adjust faster.
- Eat meals that are rich in high quality proteins, while being low in fat, calories, and, especially, sodium.
- Make rest a priority, before and during your trip.
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages.
- Relax and avoid getting stressed out.
- When you arrive at your destination, keep busy until bedtime arrives and resist the urge to nap.
- Eat healthy foods rich in vitamins and antioxidants to keep your energy levels up and to avoid getting sick.
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