If you travel for work or just have a lot of family living abroad, you may be familiar with dreadful jet lag. Fear not, for there are some steps you can take to lessen the effects jet lag.
The condition known as jet lag is caused when you travel across several time zones. The human body runs on a schedule or what is referred to as an "internal clock," maintained based on the pattern of sunlight, night, and day. Jet lag tends to be worse when you cross 4 or more time zones and has a variety of symptoms including difficulty concentrating, daytime fatigue, sleep problems, and muscle soreness.
Chances are if you are traveling far you may not want to waste time when you reach your destination trying to cope with the time change and the effects of jet lag, especially if you are traveling for business purposes. Here are a few ways you can minimize the effects and maybe sidestep jet lag altogether!
Melatonin: When your body can detect that the day is coming to an end and the night is here, it produces melatonin which helps you fall asleep at the right time. You can take melatonin supplements to help outsmart your internal clock and reset it once you are at your destination. Be careful when you head to the U.K. because you must have a perscription for it.
Sunlight: Sun exposure in reasonable doses is good for you but it can also help with adjusting your internal clock to a new schedule. When you reach your destination, be outside during prime sunny hours and get some good exposure to orient your body to the new day/night schedule. If you are too restless at a late hour, turn the lights down low and close your curtains to get rested and sleepy. Use an eye mask if needed.
Diet: Jet lag is caused by a shift in time zones that throws off the body's internal clock due to a difference in daylight and night time hours, but the effects of jet lag can be made worse by dehydration and or toxicity. Make sure you drink plenty of water and eat healthy leading up to and after your trip and try to avoid processed sugar, alcohol, and caffeine as they create toxicity in the body and tend to dehydrate. Be sure to detox before you leave for the airport.
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