For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts

Ways To Cure Jet Lag

By Sheetal Tewari

All of us bear the problem of jet lag very often and find it hard to deal with it. The symptoms vary from people to people. The main symptoms of jet lag include fatigue, insomnia, headache, anxiety, diarrhoea, constipation, dizziness and dehydration. Sometimes there are signs of heartbeat irregularities, increased susceptibility to illness and even memory loss.

Although it is a temporary disorder, it causes too much discomfort and takes 2-3 days or even more time to let the body resume normalcy. After a long air journey, some people take more than normal time to get back to their normal daily routine.

It is a big problem for many of us, but if we keep a check on our diet, especially before, during and after the journey, we can feel little better. There are many foods and beverages known to have such qualities which help cure jet lag.

Try having foods and beverages which will definitely help you feel better and cure jet lag. Let's have a look on the food which may help you cure jet lag:

Drink plenty of water and beverages

Drink plenty of water and beverages

Keep yourself well hydrated whenever you take a flight, especially when it is a long journey. Drink plenty of water before and during the flight. If you are not able to drink normal water, drink other beverages and stay hydrated.

No caffeinated drinks

No caffeinated drinks

One of the ways to avoid jet lag is, don't consume any caffeinated drinks. It makes you more susceptible to jet lag. So, try to avoid coffee and other caffeinated drinks as much as possible. Restrict yourself to non-caffeinated drinks.

Ginger tea

Ginger tea

Crush or grate ginger and put it in the boiling water. Let it boil for 2-3 minutes and pour it in a cup. Add a teaspoon of honey to it and drink it. If you are not able to make ginger tea, you can simply chew ginger also. You can have it two to three times a day.

Protein rich food

Protein rich food

When you suffer from a jet lag, eat predominantly high-protein foods. Eat foods like meat, fish, chicken, cheese, eggs and tofu for breakfast and lunch. It is said that these foods stimulate the production of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the body. These substances found in foods cure jet lag.

Fruits and salads

Fruits and salads

Eat lots of fruits and salad. Restrict yourself to the lightest food possible when you are suffering from a jet lag. If possible, carry some fruits and homemade salad with you during your journey. The food provided in the flights is heavy for the body to digest.

Valerian tea and Milk with ginger powder

Valerian tea and Milk with ginger powder

Drink water with a few drops of rosemary oil in it, and then drink Valerian tea after 2-3 hours. You can also drink a cup of milk with a pinch of ginger powder and nutmeg in it. These drinks help your body to overcome jet lag.

Exercise, stay active

Exercise, stay active

Even if you are restricting yourself to a certain diet to fight jet lag, make sure you keep your body active. Do light exercises and physical activities a week before your journey. Keep stretching your body every now and then during your journey to prevent or cure jet lag.

Have a good night sleep

Have a good night sleep

Yes, sleep well the night after your journey. You will definitely get up refreshed next morning. A good night sleep is the best cure for jet lag. Jet lag becomes really worse when you are not able to sleep during the journey, so try to sleep during the flight also. It will help you fight jet lag.

Story first published: Friday, August 30, 2013, 18:01 [IST]
Read more about: diet health