How to beat jet lag in three easy steps

Jet lag occurs when the body clock is out of sync with a new time zone. Our body easily adjusts to a 2 hour time zone change but more than that can cause problems of meal times, digestion, migraines, sleeping, hormones and even body temperature. If we cannot immediately adjust to this new routine we have jet lag. We all have a different speed to adjusting to a new time zone; it can vary greatly from several days to a week. Jet lag only occurs when flight is west to east, or east to west. A flight from north to south will not cause jet lag.

There are simple and effective ways to minimize jet lag. Possibly the most important is to cut down on stress and to finish all important tasks before the flight. Visits to the gym or exercise before the flight and abstinence from alcohol coupled with a good night’s sleep with help to reduce jet lag.

It is essential to drink liquids whilst flying, water is obviously the best choice, try to avoid coffee, tea and fruit juices. Dehydration is caused by the air in the plane and in order to feel good it is necessary to drink. If possible on a long haul flight, try to sleep but remember to walk up and down the aisles when you can. It is a good idea to take your shoes off when flying this will take the pressure off your feet. If there is a stop over on a long haul flight take advantage of the shower facilities offered in some airports. This will help the circulation and muscles and to some extent cut down on jet lag.

There are many anti jet lag diets on the market, but they need to be started 4 days before the flight, and consist of a routine of feasting and fasting and eating meals rich in protein for breakfast and high calorie meals for lunch and dinner. Sleeping pills are not advised, they are dangerous and do not imitate natural sleep. During this type of sleep the person does not move and this immobility can cause deep vein thrombosis, which can be fatal.