FitSugar

3 Ways to Prevent Jet Lag Before You Get on a Plane

Leta Shy — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 02:46:31 PDT

Nothing says Summer like a warm-weather vacation, but chances are if you've got epic travel plans in the near future, your trip with include a bit of dreaded jet lag. Flying through time zone after time zone can wreak havoc on your body, from feeling swollen and bloated to being irritated, foggy-headed, and sleep-deprived. But what you do before can help make sure you're ready as soon as you hit the tarmac.

Drink water. Dehydration is a serious cause of jet lag. Make sure you spend the day drinking lots of water before you board the plane, and don't stop once you're there; stock up on those little bottles when the flight attendant passes through so you can regularly hydrate during your trip.

Check out two more prevention tips after the break.

Samantha Brown Tip: How to Fight Off Jet Lag

SavvySugar — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 10:00:21 PDT

Reader reesiecup wanted to hear some tried and true tips for jet lag from a travel expert, and Travel Channel host Samantha Brown shared some great tips when I interviewed her last week. Here's what she had to say:

"About two days before I’m to go overseas, I stay away from all caffeine. I don’t drink any. No tea, no coffee. And so it kind of leaves my system and when I arrive at the place, at that first sign, that first feeling of your body solidifying into cement - which is how I just equate jet lag, even if you’re walking you just want to lay down. When you feel that coming on, you head to the first café you see, take a shot of espresso and it'll hit your body like ten horses. Then you’ll be able to go on a little more. The worst thing you can do is sleep. You have to fight off sleep. You have to get yourself on that schedule or you’ll just feel terrible for three to four days right from the beginning. Also, I sleep on the plane and that’s my first night of good sleep."

Love her tips? Read our exclusive interview with Samantha, the woman who has our ultimate dream job!

Photo courtesy of the Travel Channel

Lady Gaga Keeps It Healthy With Coconut Water and Hummus

FitSugar — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:30:52 PDT

I'm not going to lie, I was starting to worry about Lady Gaga. Her demanding tour schedule, frequent workouts, and numerous public appearances seemed to be taking a toll on the singer: in March, Gaga almost collapsed while performing. The singer later told fans that she was dealing with exhaustion from jet lag and lack of sleep. But things are looking up.

Since then, Gaga has been making her health a priority; her choreographer Laurieann Gibson tells People that the singer is sticking to a healthy diet to keep energy levels up: "It's all about salsa with grain chips, tofu, turkey slices, hummus and coconut water."

It looks like Madonna is no longer the only pop star digging on coconut water!

It's Not Too Early (or Late) to Use Jet Lag to Your Advantage

SavvySugar — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:45:19 PDT

An inevitable result of traveling long distances from your home, jet lag doesn't have to get you down. Sure, your body can naturally adjust (eventually), but it's possible to make this work for you. For example, enjoying a late dinner before taking advantage of the nightlife or attending a concert on the East Coast is even easier when traveling from the west. Similarly, flying from the East Coast to Hawaii may mean you naturally wake before dawn, providing extra time to get ready for an early morning hike or to head somewhere and watch the sunrise, something you may never get up to do in your hometown.

While jet lag could be avoided, you just never know 'til you get there. Save yourself some time and look up a couple things to do on vacation during the earlier mornings or in those extra hours before nightfall, depending on which way you've traveled, before you leave home so you're not scrambling upon arrival. Do you ever plan activities on vacation to maximize those waking hours, odd as they might be?

Lady Gaga Says It Was a Case of the Jet Lag

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:05:27 PDT

Lady Gaga's near collapse on stage last week had both fans and the media worried: has the grueling tour schedule finally proved too much? The star looked frail during a New Zealand performance of "Bad Romance" - even having to sit and lie down through the song. This incident comes shortly after postponing two concerts in the US due to exhaustion. She did, however, make it through the song and looked as good as new at the next night's performance.

On Friday, she told Australian radio hosts, Kyle and Jackie O that it was jet lag - not overwork - that caused her to nearly pass out: "I was so jet lagged. I passed out about three times on stage that night but I got myself to the floor. I'd rather die on stage than walk off because I was going to pass out."

To find out how to make jet lag more bearable,

Fight Jet Lag: Don't Eat?

FitSugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 08:00:00 PDT

If you're getting ready to cross time zones, new research suggests that fasting may help you deal with jet lag. While it's true that light regulates the circadian rhythm, an internal clock that determines when you sleep, wake, and eat, there may be a second internal clock that takes over when your body thinks food is scarce. It takes 16 hours of fasting to kick this clock into gear, and manipulating this clock by denying yourself food may help to adjust to a new time zone. Scientists experimented with this concept by offering food to mice only during times when they were supposed to be sleeping. Eventually, the mice that adjusted to this new eating schedule remained awake at nighttime in order to eat. Since we are mammals too, scientists think this strategy may work on humans as well.

It may be worth a try if you're traveling across the globe, but personally, I think not eating is a bad idea. Not only will it screw up your metabolism, but it'll make you cranky, dizzy, and give you a headache, which will only worsen your symptoms of jet lag.

Source

5 Things: Dealing With Jet Lag

FitSugar — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 08:45:00 PST

We've all experienced the excitement of travel and the difficulty of jet lag. Jet lag seriously messes with your body clock (circadian rhythm), which is programmed for regular cycles of day and night. Depending on how many time zones you cross, it may take several days to get your internal clock back on schedule. Some symptoms of jet lag include daytime drowsiness, foggy mind, irritability, difficulty concentrating, headaches, trouble sleeping, and swelling in your hands and feet.

Here are some things you can do to deal with jet lag:

Reset your watch to the time zone you'll be traveling to, so you can mentally prepare your body for the new time.
The air in the plane cabin can be really dry, which will make you feel sleepy, so drink water throughout the flight. Also avoid drinking alcohol and caffeine right before and during your flight since they'll dehydrate you and mess with your sleep schedules more.
Walk around and do seated exercises as much as you can to improve your circulation, which will hopefully prevent stiffness and swelling.
If you're taking a red-eye, make the cabin as dark as you can so you can try to sleep. Wear eye shades and earplugs to help you tune out the activity around you.
When you arrive in the morning, try to stay awake, and go to sleep at that time zone's normal bedtime. It'll be tough, but you'll get a better night of sleep than if you took a little afternoon cat nap.

Source

Travel Tip: Stay Sane on the Plane

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 12:30:00 PST

Flying can be one of the most stressful parts about the holiday season. Airplanes are hardly conducive to getting around and moving. Use these tips before and during flying to get the most of your flight:

Book a daytime arrival if possible. Once you arrive, do your best to drag yourself outside and do something active while it's still daylight - this should help you recover from jet lag much more quickly.
Book an aisle seat and walk the length of the plane every hour to prevent back strain, loosen your muscles, and get blood circulating.
It's no surprise that cabin air is super dry. To combat dehydration (which contributes to jet lag), drink a 16-oz. water before boarding. Then be sure to stay well hydrated in flight. I try to drink one small water bottle (airplane special size) every 30 minutes.

Source

What's the Deal With: Melatonin

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:35:00 PDT

Lack of sleep getting you down? It seems like a fair amount of you don't feel like you get enough sleep. That is a bit worrisome since a good night's sleep is a vital ingredient for good health. So if you're plagued by insomnia, you might want to know about melatonin. It is a hormone that helps to control the sleep wake cycle, and it is derived from the amino acid we most commonly associate with sleep, tryptophan. Since darkness triggers the release of melatonin, natural levels of the hormone are highest just before bedtime. While melatonin has been proven only mildly effective as a sleep aid for insomniacs, it may play a stronger role in overcoming jet lag.

Melatonin comes in a synthetic supplement form, however, it can cause a few side effects, which can include: daytime sleepiness, dizziness, headaches and abdominal discomfort. The optimal dose of melatonin has not been determined, and its long term effects have not been tested either. I did find the sleep aid drink Dreamerz, which contains melatonin, tasty and effective.

Fit's Tip: If you are using melatonin to fight jet lag, you should take it on the first day of travel close to the bedtime of your destination. You must take it every 24 hours for several days for it to help alleviate the symptoms of jet lag.

Source

When Traveling, Which is WORSE?

FitSugar — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 07:30:00 PDT

Summer is coming up, I'm sure a lot of you have big trips planned. Vacations provide a much needed break from the trials and tribulations of daily life. Whether you are vacationing for relaxation or adventure, traveling does sometimes come with interesting side effects - both known and unexpected.

So I want to know...

Source