Is snacking the solution to jetlag?

[CTyankee]

Choosing your meals more carefully could be key to avoiding post-long-haul flight drowsiness, Japanese research has suggested.

It’s the perennial conundrum for long-haul travellers: how on earth do you fend off – or prevent – the drowsy aftermath of a flight to the other side of the world?

Some people swear by taking valium on board the flight; others have even said that Viagra could work as a cure. Others have bought specialised lamps to reduce the impact of changing time zones. The privileged few can always curl up on a first-class bed. And yes, there are of course apps that claim they can help flyers beat jet lag.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/traveller-tips/is-snacking-the-solution-to-jetlag-20140714-3bvid.html#ixzz37qwP0DyW

I have wrestled with jet lag (on return flights...for some reason not on ones going over) for a long time. I'm out of it for days.

I am SO going to try this on my next international trip...

[RKP5637]

1. Depending on my schedule when I used to fly a lot internationally I used to

take a melatonin and go immediately to bed when I arrived. I always got there a day or 2 ahead of my meetings. It helped ... it was not perfect, but for me it worked. A lot of my coworkers did the same.

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tc/melatonin-overview

[CTyankee]

2. melatonin didn't work for me.

Again, I don't get it going over which I can't understand.

I think one problem is that I can sleep a bit going over but not coming back. Also, I've learned my lesson: Get nonstop flights whenever possible or if not, plan on breaking up your return by a day or so, in order to fly back nonstop.For example, last March I was in a remote part of Tuscany. Upon returning, I had to take a car to Florence, wait for my connecting flight to Rome, arrive at JFK, wait for limo to drive to my house in New Haven (which was the last stop the limo made). I literally had left at 6:30 am on a Monday and arrived in my house at 2 a.m. Tuesday...

[RKP5637]

3. I've used Trazodone too. I tend to do my best thinking

when falling asleep. ... so, that plus jet lag, yep sleepless night. The Trazodone helps. I used to use ambien for awhile, never had a problem, but too many potential side affects. I know some people that used to take it when boarding the plane. I could never do that, way to risky IMO. That, sounded like a fun trip!

[CTyankee]

6. I was on the Piero della Francesca Trail, based in Anghiari, a medieval town...

[RKP5637]

9. Beautiful! I am really drawn to locations such as this, the history, the mystique,

just being around them.

[CTyankee]

14. It was a real step back in time...

we went to tiny Monterchi, San Sepolcro, and a city, Arezzo. Lotsa cobblestoned streets. Not too many Americans there. I was surprised that I had to use some of my bad Italian, too...I thought most places in Tuscany would have lotsa English speakers. I called it my "brigadoon" in Italy experience...I got the feeling that I would wake up and I'd be in 15th century Anghiari with everyone in their medieval garb...

[RKP5637]

20. "I got the feeling that I would wake up and I'd be in 15th century Anghiari with everyone in their

medieval garb..." I've felt that way in parts of England before. I've also had friends in Germany whose houses were sooo old, I felt I had stepped way back in time!

[CTyankee]

21. I'm glad to hear that I wasn't going nuts...LOL...

with me in Italy, it was the bells...they rang every hour and half hour in Anghiari...so you couldn't really escape the reality of where you were! Even at night, but I was always too tired to even wake up at night when they rang...it became a tempo of your days and nights...
there was something nice about having those bells, tho...almost a reassurance that time is eternal and we are all part of that...all good...

[Aerows]

4. Low sodium V8 juice

Keeps you full of vitamins and lay off the booze and caffeine.

[CTyankee]

7. V8 sounds good! I love it

No booze, but I do love me my coffee

[Aerows]

8. I quit coffee a few years ago

Now I just have decaf iced tea in the morning. Low sodium V8 rocks, though .

[RKP5637]

10. I drink too much diet soda each day, it's a bad habit I've gotten into ... I'll

eventually stop. I do it for the caffeine.

[CTyankee]

12. you could taper off with half caffeine, half no caffeine diet soda...my husband likes

diet pepsi with no caffeine. His doc says it's good.

[RKP5637]

18. Good idea!

[LordGlenconner]

5. I find cocaine usually works for me

I'm kidding of course.

[tammywammy]

11. The trick is to immediately get on the time zone when you arrive.

I screwed myself returning from Sydney by "taking a nap" once I got home. You have to immediately get on the time zone you arrive in. If it's 6pm go to sleep at 9, take melatonin or whatever. That's worked for me plus the international travelers at work.

[spinbaby]

13. I somehow doubt snacking is the solution

I travel with some regularity. For Asia, the trick is to stay awake on the plane and then go to bed at your destination's normal bedtime. For Europe, the trick is to sleep as much as you can on the plane, then go to bed at your destination's normal bedtime. I take melatonin at bedtime, too, but am not sure it helps.

[CTyankee]

15. going over, what you recommend is what I do (Europe). It's the return trip that kills me.

[JI7]

16. i think the best would be to arrive shortly before you would go to sleep

you could have a couple hours or so to settle into your room, get something to eat and whatever other little things you might need to get done. but then just go to sleep and plan any big things for the next day.

i made the mistake of planning flights that arrive early so i could have almost the whole day to do things. but i was just too tired to enjoy anything .

and i'm one of those people who can't fall asleep easily on a plane even if i'm really tired. so i'm too tired to do things like read a book or even watch a movie to pass time. but it's too uncomfortable to fall asleep.

[CTyankee]

17. my flights to europe are all overnight from JFK.

so no real choice there. Once I get in to where I am going in Europe it is early morning, so I have breakfast and have to be alert to go thru the customs, etc. and arrangements for my post flight destinations. Obviously, you have to be alert to do these things, even if you are a seasoned international traveler as I am. But I always rest in my room for a short period of time before going out.

Coming back at 2 a.m. there is not much I'm going to be doing except dropping my bags and going to bed...

[JI7]

19. what do you go for ? is it work related or personal ?

if it's more a personal trip and you don't have to worry about work and have flexibility i would probably just spend the first day hanging around somewhere . it can be wherever you are staying or a nearby park . but nothing that requires too much physical movement or concentration.

for things you really look forward to and want to enjoy i would save until after i got a good night of sleep.

if you come back at 2 am it doesn't seem too bad since it's late and you will sleep anyways. it might take a few days to adjust to the hours you want to wake up/sleep. but not as bad as adjusting to opposite time zones.

i think it all depends on the person though .

[CTyankee]

22. I dunno. It's just difficult for me to adjust to coming back...

I think as I age I get less able to adjust to my time clock...