Travelers should avoid eating 12 to 16 hours before departure to mitigate the effects of jet lag. According to travel experts, prolonged fasting before a flight stops the body’s internal clock, reducing the negative effects of flying.
Claims management company AirAdvisor has published its top five tips to help your body reduce the effects of jet lag.
- Starvation. Tourists are advised to abstain from food for 12-16 hours before flying. This helps to “stop the clock” of the body, preventing a reaction to jet lag.
- Adjusting your sleep schedule. It is recommended to change your sleep schedule before traveling to suit the time zone of your destination. For example, gradually go to bed 20 minutes later if you are flying east, or earlier if you are flying west.
- Physical exercise. Intensive training before departure will help release dopamine and endorphins, reducing stress and facilitating adaptation to new times.
- Setting the clock. You should synchronize your watch with the new time zone not upon arrival, but in advance. To create an optimal adaptation plan, experts recommended using applications such as Timeshifter. This psychological technique also helps to adapt.
- Taking melatonin. Low doses of melatonin taken 30 minutes before bedtime will help the body adapt to the new routine. It is enough to start taking it a couple of days before the trip.