Bag jet lag: don't let fatigue, sleepiness, disorientation, and general malaise spoil one minute of your vacation

Natural Health, May, 2005

bag jet lag

Don't let fatigue, sleepiness, disorientation, and
general malaise spoil one minute of your vacation.

what       Anti-let-Lag Diet              No Jet-Lag

why        A pre-trip eating program      This homeopathic remedy
           can help reset your            contains Arnica montana
           biological clock to your       (leopard's bane), Bellis
           destination time.              perennis (daisy), Chamomilla
                                          (wild chamomile),
                                          ipecacuanha (ipecac), and
                                          Lycopodium (clubmoss).

the        Developed by the United        Seventy-five percent of 55
evidence   States Department of Energy,   flight attendants traveling
           the diet was found effective   from New Zealand to the
           when tested on National        United States, Asia, and
           Guard personnel deployed       Europe reported that the
           across nine time zones, and    product reduced their
           is also used by other          symptoms of jet lag,
           branches of the military.      according to manufacturer
                                          testing.

caveats    No morning coffee for four     None when used as
           days!                          instructed.

using it   Three to four days out,        Take one tablet at wheels
           begin alternating "feast"      up, another every two hours
           days (double helpings) with    during the flight (unless
           "fast" days (800 calories      you're on a long-haul flight
           total). Eat high-protein       and can sleep), and one
           breakfasts and lunches, and    after each landing,
           high-carbohydrate dinners.     including stopovers.
           No caffeine before 3 p.m,
           and no alcohol at all is
           allowed. Plug in your route
           at antijetlagdiet.com; for
           $10.95, you'll receive a
           customized meal plan.

what       Exercise

why        Exercise helps to reset
           circadian rhythms.
           Resistance exercise, in
           particular, affects
           biological "clocks" in your
           muscles, helping you adjust
           to a new time zone.

the        A number of published
evidence   studies, including one from
           Harvard Medical School in
           Boston, have concluded that
           exercise is helpful for
           reducing the severity of
           jet lag.

caveats    You actually have to get up
           and do it while you're on
           vacation.

using it   Exercise for 45 minutes
           in the mornings at your
           destination. Rubber exercise
           bands or tubing make
           easy-to-tote resistance
           tools. Do it
           outdoors--you'll get a
           double dose of help because
           daylight also aids in
           resetting your body clock.