By Kate Harveston
Life often requires you to disrupt your routine temporarily to do what you need to do. When you board a plane, you’re probably not just waving goodbye to your hometown. You likely wave goodbye, at least to some extent, to your healthy sleep, exercise and eating routines, too. So, you do your best to prepare for jet lag. Be prepared to keep your health optimal while flying with these 10 tips.
1. Walk Through Security With an Empty Water Bottle
You can’t carry liquids as you go through security, but bring an empty water bottle to take advantage of water fountains and helpful flight attendants. Hydrate well before your flight and while you’re in the air to protect yourself from catching a bug. Pressurized cabin humidity dries out your mucous membranes and makes it difficult for your system to keep germs from invading.
2. Use the Restroom Ahead of Time, Cautiously
Common sense prevails when it comes to avoiding touching a public toilet seat, but most people don’t exercise caution when it comes to the flushing part, which can also launch germs into the air. Flushing disperses more germs into the air, where they accumulate on nearby surfaces, but the worst offender in terms of bacteria-covered surfaces is the push to flush button.
Closing the lid, if there is one, before flushing prevents some of the dispersal. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, using a paper towel to turn off the faucet.
3. Bring a Pillow and Blanket
When H1N1 flu virus spread, many airlines took away pillows and blankets from the planes as a precaution against infection. So, airlines often don’t offer these items anymore, and it’s better if you bring your own to avoid germs, anyway.
Bring a flight-friendly hoodie or foldable blanket, and don’t forget a neck pillow to protect your neck and back from pain.
Those who travel economy or on major airlines all complained about uncomfortable seats in one survey, but AirTran had the worst seats at a 95 percent complaint rate, with only 52 percent complaining about the “best” seats of Southwest. Chronic neck and back pain may persist for weeks to months or even years. Acute pain can come on very suddenly, and you feel a dull to severe pain which can affect mobility and shoot down your back.
4. Eat a Healthy Meal
Airplane food may come with added costs, financially and physically. Does the plane have good sanitation ratings?
Save your money and health by eating a nutritious meal before you board. Include low-fat yogurt in your preflight breakfast, since it helps reduce your risk of catching a cold. Make a colorful plate with leafy greens and a portion of lean meat. If you run out of time to eat, don’t despair too much — more fast-food restaurants at the airport offer at least moderately healthy meals nowadays. You can pack snacks like jerky and nuts for the plane.
5. Save the Bar for After You Land
The airport lounge looks tempting during a long layover, but if you imbibe alcohol, you put yourself at an increased risk of dehydration. Add in low cabin humidity, and you make the body a friendlier environment for infection, since you lower your immune system’s protective abilities. You also increase your risk of getting nauseous and travel-sick this way.
Order a virgin cocktail or seltzer water instead of alcohol. To ease into a relaxed mood, find a cup of chamomile or lavender tea.
Adjust for jet lag by changing your watch to the new time zone ahead of time and getting up and going to sleep earlier before your flight takes off. Eat a healthy meal before you board and bring nutritious snacks and comfortable items to protect your neck and back. Wash your hands thoroughly when using public facilities. You can also use lotion to soothe your skin and essential oils to keep your senses calm.
Give yourself plenty of time to settle in when you land. Hydrate and eat a healthy meal, depending on your routine for arrival and need for rest. Lay out your clothes for the day ahead and decide how you’ll adapt your fitness routine while visiting. Your stay will flow more easily, and you’ll get more out of your trip from the healthy and relaxing flight you just had to your destination.
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