This post is dedicated to a few ladies that have contacted me regarding their concern of flying overseas, and the impact that it has on their health.
Life on earth is strongly regulated by natural light cycles over our 24hr day. These light cycles as we know it make up day and night. Our own circadian rhythms also have a strong influence on our gut flora and their own circadian rhythms.
This disruption to our circadian rhythms by frequent flying or shift work increases our risk of diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and may also explain our inability to lose weight leading to obesity.
Working night shift has shown to be so disruptive to our health that it is now being labelled a class 2 carcinogen. Recent research has also shown that women who work regular night shifts are 20% more susceptibility to all forms of cancer, especially breast cancer.
Lately I was listening to a geneticist claiming that nutrient levels in your blood can drop by up to a third, after a long flight. He discovered that this loss of a third of the bodies nutrients, was due to microbes dying off during long flights across different time zones.
What you need to do!
I suggest buying a therapeutic strength probiotic for your trip, and taking these with each of your three meals for the whole course of the trip. That is from the moment you arrive at the airport to depart until 3 days after your return home.
Try to consume fermented foods daily while you are away.
Fermented foods produced in that country will provide you with specific microbes unique to that region,maybe even increasing the diversity and quantity of your micro biome.(A good thing)
Make sure you filter your water, as chemicals in water can destroy your microbiota.
Drink water to stay hydrated, and limit alcohol consumption. (Say no to that 3rd Martini)
Be careful not to consume foods that have been left out on display, sometimes unsold items are placed back on display the following day. I have seen this in a health food shop on the Gold Coast with unsold pies. Hmmmm!!
Order cooked food of the menu, ideally this is cooked fresh once you order, to ensure it hasn't been premade and sitting for hours at room temperature in a cabinet.
How to reset the clock
- When travelling east or west, avoid bright exposure to morning light until at least 10am.(This may mean wearing dark sunglasses, and sitting next to the window so you can keep the shades drawn)
- During these same days maximise exposure to afternoon and early evening light. Open the shades at these times, in order to assist in bright light exposure during the flight.
- During afternoon flights do not draw the shades, so you can watch a movie. If you must watch a movie keep the shades open.
- Once you have arrived at your destination and have slept, try to get up early with the sun, get outdoors and do a little exercise. Remember the morning light will help reset your circadian rhythms in that country.
Researchers have shown that these simple techniques can help adjust internal clocks by up to 3hrs per day.
Happy Holidays!!
My name is Blair Harvey and I have had the pleasure of working at one of Australia's best Health Retreat's for the past fourteen wonderful years. Over those years I have had the delight of working with a spectacular kitchen team, we all have an immense passion for cooking good healthy food that is unique and tantalizing to your taste buds. Together we have not only developed our skills in cooking wholesome, nourishing and out right delicious foods, but we have been committed to broadening our knowledge of healing with whole foods and exploring the beauty of healthy living. Because of our enthusiasm in the benefits of foods and there healing properties I developed a blog to help us SHARE what we have learnt with the rest of the world.
You will find tasty gems of wisdom on health, food and healing, helping to expand your mind and revitalize your knowledge of healthy eating.