Archive for April, 2009

Posted on April 14, 2009 - by Kelly Verge

Jet Lag Diet – Resetting the Body’s Clock

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I know this post is completely off-topic, but as many of you know, this summer I am going on a mission trip to Nepal. A friend who also has many missionary friends gave me the following information to try before my flight.

According to her missionary friends it works very well.

Since I’m a fan of interesting things, and since I think the concept is pretty cool, I thought I’d pass it along for those who might also be interested.

The Anti-Jet-Lag Diet

1. DETERMINE BREAKFAST TIME at destination on day of arrival.

2. FEAST-FAST-FEAST-FAST - Start four days before breakfast time
   in step 1. On day one, FEAST; eat heartily with high-protein breakfast
   and lunch and a high-carbohydrate dinner. No coffee except between
   3 and 5 p.m. On day two, FAST on light meals of salads, light soups,
   fruits and juices. Again, no coffee except between 3 and 5 p.m. On day
   three, FEAST again. On day four, FAST; if you drink caffeinated beverages,
   take them in morning when traveling west, or between 6 and 11 p.m. when
   traveling east.

3. BREAK THE FINAL FAST at destination breakfast time. No alcohol on the
   plane. If the flight is long enough, sleep until normal breakfast time
   at destination, but no later. Wake up and FEAST on a high protein
   breakfast. Stay awake and active. Continue the day's meals according to
   mealtimes at the destination.

FEAST on high protein breakfast and lunches to stimulate the body's
      active cycle. Suitable meals include steak, eggs, hamburgers,
      high-protein cereals, green beans.

FEAST on high carbohydrates suppers to stimulate sleep. They include
      spaghetti and other pastas (but no meatballs), crepes (but no
      meat filling), potatoes, other starchy vegetables, and sweet desserts.

FAST  days help deplete the liver's store of carbohydrates and prepare the
      body's clock for resetting. Suitable foods include fruit, light soups,
      broths, skimpy salads, unbuttered toast, half pieces of bread. Keep
      calories and carbohydrates to a minimum.

        1            2            3            4
      FEAST         FAST        FEAST         FAST         BREAK FINAL FAST

B  high protein  light foods  high protein  light foods  Westbound: If you drink
                                                         caffeinated beverages,
                                                         take them morning
                                                         before departure.
                                                         Eastbound: take them
L  high protein  light foods  high protein  light foods  between 6 and 11 p.m.
                                                         If flight is long
                                                         enough, sleep until
                                                         destination breakfast
                                                         time. Wake up and FEAST
S  high carbo.   light foods  high carbo.   light foods  beginning with a high
                                                         protein breakfast.
                                                         Lights on. Stay active.

Coffee, tea, cola, other caffeinated beverages
allowed only between 3 and 5 p.m.

We’re going to give this diet a shot to see if it will help us to adjust to the time on the other side of the world.

If you’ve had any experience in long travel or beating jet-lag, feel free to chime in, I’d love your thoughts.