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Home ยป Travel ยป Dos and don’ts to combat jetlag

Dos and don’ts to combat jetlag

24 February, 2020 by Expat Living 3 Min Read

https://expatliving.hk/how-to-combat-jetlag-dos-and-donts-to-minimise-effects-after-long-flights/

Ever suffered from desynchronosis syndrome? Of course you have; itโ€™s the scientific term for what we know as jetlag.

What causes jetlag?

Jetlag results from changes to the bodyโ€™s circadian rhythms caused by transmeridian jet travel. Translation: travelling long distances east or west changes the timing of outside light patterns, the cue that sets our body clocks.

Jetlag is a relatively new condition, as air travel in the โ€˜olden daysโ€™ (before passenger jets) didnโ€™t go far enough or fast enough to cause too many problems. Travelling north-south doesnโ€™t stress the body but going east you lose time and west, you gain it, creating a โ€˜lagโ€™. This change can cause a wide range of symptoms from insomnia and daytime sleepiness to reduced appetite, dizziness and difficulty concentrating.

Plane flying for web article on jetlag

How can you minimise the effects of jetlag?

Our friends in the field of Sports Medicine have done a lot of research into jetlag. Theyโ€™re interested in athletes performing at their peak after long haul travel, but their findings can help us mere mortals, too. A 2012 study at Swansea University in the UK found that โ€˜light is the strongest realigning stimulus and careful timing of light exposure and avoidance can promote adjustment.โ€™

For best performance in sports (or indeed in business), the mind and body should be working in tandem at peak efficiency. Sports medicine doctors use a combination of โ€˜adaptation stimuliโ€™ on their travelling athletes and make prescriptions of light, melatonin, exercise, meal timings and diet.

Research conducted by Dr Mark Rosekind, former director of NASAโ€™s fatigue countermeasures program, found that an average executiveโ€™s productivity and performance while travelling is reduced by up to 20 percent. Dr Rosekind found that this is mostly due to lack of sleep. Encouragingly, he found that executives that exercised during their business trip performed up to 61 percent better on reaction and alertness tests than non-exercisers.

Jetlag dos and don’ts

DO

– Try taking melatonin supplements (itโ€™s the hormone that controls your body clock) to reset your sleep/wake cycle.
– Get outside once you get to your destination.
– Pack your trainers and use them!
– Drink only water on the flight and lots of it.
– Where possible, plan important meetings for times youโ€™d usually be awake at home.
– Pack earplugs, eye mask, teddy bear – whatever helps you sleep well.
– Start the way you mean to continue. Depart well rested.
– Fly only first class or in your private jet.

DONโ€™T

– Be in bright light when itโ€™s dark outside. Even the light from your computer or phone can mess with your body clock.
– Drink too much booze or caffeine during the trip.
– Nap too long. A quick 20 minute lie down can easily become an, โ€˜Oops, missed the meetingโ€™ three hour slumber if you’re not careful.
– Sit in your seat for the whole flight. Move around.
– Eat too much rich food while travelling. This can make jetlag symptoms worse.
– Travel in the company of anyone under nine years old.

Apps to help fight the lag

Of course app stores have got on the jet wagon and created some nifty apps to help you avoid or deal with jetlag.

Timeshifter โ€“ helps resynchronise your circadian clock with your new time zone though a customised sleep, light and caffeine schedule.

Sleep Cycle โ€“ an alarm clock app that analyses your sleep patterns and wakes you up at the optimum time.

Uplift โ€“ unlike other apps this is nothing to do with sleep patterns but recommends acupressure exercises to help you adjust to your new timezone.

 

See more useful tips in our Travel section

Maximising public holidays for short breaks
Travel news: places to stay and play
6 quick getaways from Hong Kong

Categories: Travel Travel News & Offers

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Thanks Julianna for this delicious 
Easy Blueberry Oreo Cheesecake to start the weekend!
Serves 4, or 2 if you're hungry๐Ÿ˜‰

Preparation time: 15 mins Ingredients:
โ€ข 6 digestive biscuits
โ€ข 50g butter 
โ€ข 250g cream cheese (1 brick) 
โ€ข 6 Oreo biscuits
โ€ข 125g blueberries (1 box)
โ€ข 100g milk or whipped cream 
โ€ข 5 tablespoons sugar

Instructions:
For crust:
1. Crush digestive biscuits in a big bowl and add melted butter.
2. Press together at the base of the cake mould.
3. Set aside to cool.

For filling: 
1. Beat cream cheese, sugar and milk or whipped cream on medium speed in a bowl until it is smooth and creamy. 
2. Add crushed Oreos and beat until they mix evenly. 
3. Pour the filling over the cooled crust.
4. Freeze for two hours and top with blueberries!๐Ÿซ
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Ingredients

Brownie base:

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1.5 cup of pumpkin puree
1 cup of hazelnut butter or almond *
1/2 cup of raw dark cacao powder
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1/3 cup of melted cacao butter
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1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1-2 teaspoons of Erythritol
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1/3 cup of melted cacao butter
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1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
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1 teaspoon of Erythritol
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Brownie base:

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Good morning! Weโ€™ve got another delicious recipe from @charissa_and_co_wellness ๐Ÿ’•

Recipe: Persimmon Vanilla Chia Porridge

Serves 2

Ingredients

PERSIMMON-VANILLA-CHAI-PORRIDGE.jpg
Chia Vanilla Milky Layer:

1/2 cup of chia Seeds
1.5 cup of coconut milk
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 servings of Nuzest Clean Lean Protein Vanilla 
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2 Medjool dates
2 slices of fresh persimmon
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Instructions

Chia Vanilla Milky Layer:

Blend all the ingredients together apart from the chia seeds.
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Persimmon Coconut Porridge Layer:

Blend all the ingredients together until creamy and smooth. Place in a glass jar, leave overnight in the fridge.
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