Jet Lag Remedy

Back at home, and once again, no jet lag symptoms. How do I do it? Simple: I pay attention to science. Five years ago while flying to Thailand (across the maximum 12 time zones) I read an article about a scientific study that showed diet, not sleep, is what drives the sleep cycle. As one who suffered miserably from jet lag, I was of course interested. Since trying out the very simple requirement of not eating solid food for 18 hours before a trip, I have experienced absolutely no jet lag in either direction in 12 trips to and from the U.S.

It's easier than it sounds. If your flight leaves in the late morning or early afternoon, it is a simple matter of skipping breakfast as long as you ate dinner the previous evening, at least 18 hours before the flight. If you leave early in the morning, then skip the previous evening dinner (lunch as the last meal). It's more difficult if you have an evening flight, as it requires skipping two meals, but the result is far more preferable to me than three days of jet lag.

I am writing this 21 hours after arriving from the U.S. I had a regular night's sleep and woke with--again--no jet lag symptoms. It is an amazing discovery. What is more amazing to me is the number of people I have told who just can't bring themselves to skip a meal, and prefer to deal with the stupor-inducing effects of jet lag. I have absolutely no sympathy for them when jet lag clobbers them during the next few days. I have three more days on both sides of the trip to enjoy myself.

The formula works if the flight is part of the 18 hours, too. If you just cannot give up a meal, then you can count sequential hours in the plane before you eat as part of the 18 hours.

Give it a try, and spread the word. Jet lag sucks. If there is a solution, why not follow the simple procedure for greatly reducing, or eliminating, jet lag altogether?

Jet Lag Remedy

One of the banes of international travel is the debilitating effect of "jet lag." The sluggish disorientation that disrupts the first few days after a long flight through several time zones can make zombies of even the most experienced fliers. There are many suggested remedies for reducing the effects of jet lag, none of which ever had even the slightest effect on me: I found myself swooning into a deep slumber similar to a drunken stupor in the middle of the afternoon, then spending early morning hours wide awake without a single person to interact with (but I did discover some of the most inane TV shows imaginable).

But no more. About a year and a half ago, on a flight from Iowa to Asia, I ran across an article in the on board magazine that summarized recent research into jet lag. According to scientists who conducted the research, it is not change in sleep patterns--usually suggested by "experts" that one take herbal supplements along with increased adjustments to bedtime before the trip--that upsets our internal clock. Instead, it has to do with eating patterns. The researchers suggested that before traveling, if one were to fast for 18 hours before departing, the effects of jet lag would be minimized. I figured I had little to lose, since normally I was so incapacitated by jet lag that I was disoriented for at least two days after my arrival. Fortunately, the first time I tried it, my flight was at noon, so it was rather easy to fast for 18 hours, having a hearty meal the evening before.

The result was nothing less that miraculous (in my view). I have since flown between the U.S. and Thailand six times, and six times I fasted before leaving, regardless of which way I was traveling. Each time I was able to transition into the destination time zone with no ill effects of jet lag. No kidding, none. I arrived fully able to function immediately without awakening at 2 AM wondering where the hell I was. I am living proof that this system works. I have been slightly bemused by friends who decide that they cannot possibly go without solid food for 18 hours and are willing to wrestle with jet lag for two days (each way).

If you plan to travel across time zones, or know someone who is, my suggestion is to try the fasting method. If it works for you the way it did for me, you will be pleased with the days you save not stumbling around in a fog.