Right meal timing can beat jet lag, reveals study
Jet lag is a draining experience common among international travelers. And oftentimes, it is challenging to manage. Fortunately, the latest study has come up with a potential solution to this problem. Published in the journal Chaos, the study promotes the idea of the right meal timing to combat jet lag. It is all about when you eat.
What is jet lag?
For the uninitiated, jet lag is a temporary sleep disorder that occurs when someone's internal body clock is out of sync with the time zone they are in. This can lead to fatigue and insomnia as the body struggles to adjust to the new time.
Researchers recommend having one larger meal in the morning
To understand the most effective way for passengers to adjust to a new time zone, researchers from Northwestern University and the Santa Fe Institute developed a mathematical framework. Although it is less likely to be effective as you become older, they claim that eating one large meal in the morning for three days after arrival at your destination can help you beat jet lag.
The circadian clock affects digestion among other processes
Every cell in our body runs on a circadian rhythm, a 24-hour cycle that frequently lasts longer than 24 hours. Our internal clocks reset each day as a result of several factors recalibrating them. Therefore, starting the day off with a filling breakfast can aid travelers in resetting their circadian rhythm and acclimating to the new timezone, suggests the study.
Constantly shifting meal timings is a no-no
Jet lag hits when a person's circadian clock is thrown off by shifting timezones. Various vital internal processes, such as sleep cycles, hormone activity, body temperature rhythm, and digestion are timed by a person's circadian clock. "Constantly shifting meal schedules or having a meal at night is discouraged, as it can lead to misalignment between internal clocks," lead author Yitong Huang stated.
Eating at night is not adviced
The researchers also found that eating later in the evening or at night can adversely affect the circadian rhythm. This is because eating at night causes liver inflammation, which has been connected to liver diseases such as hepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). "Eating when your brain is about to rest — can confuse internal clocks and cause desynchrony," Huang explained.
Older people may take more days to tackle jet lag
The researchers also pointed out that older travelers are more likely to require a few more days to tackle jet lag than their younger traveling companions. This is because older bodies are more susceptible to body disruptions and cannot keep up with the changes easily as they age due to factors such as weaker circadian clock signals and a decreased sensitivity to light.
