Fasting to prevent jetlag

(Jackie) #1

I have yet to fast, except often skipping meals due to lack of hunger :slight_smile: I have heard fasting can help with jetlag, and am thinking of skipping the in-flight meal and free drinks on an upcoming overseas trip. Anyone try this and does it help? How long did you fast before travel? Thanks!

(Malcolm Groves) #2

I hadn’t heard this. I travel a lot for work, and have fasted while adapting to a new timezone (but not before trying to adapt). My last trip to Indonesia I fasted from the time I got on the plane to the time I landed back home (about 6 days), mainly because it was a short notice trip and I’d already planned to fast that week and didn’t want to skip it. Didn’t notice any significant difference, but would love it if it were correct.

Cheers
Malcolm

(Larry Lustig) #3

Also have not heard this. But, practically speaking, there isn’t a lot for a ketogenic eater to eat on an airplane, at least in economy. Nor to drink.

(Jackie) #4

Yeah, probably nothing good to eat, but figured I’d stick to the meat and veg. I think I heard this on a bulletproof podcast years ago. Just googled and found this article: http://www.vogue.com/13505348/body-clock-jet-lag-fasting-trick-chronobiology-holiday-travel/

#5

I’m one of those people with platinum and super elite statuses on multiple airlines. I have fasted and not fasted on flights…including long haul international flights.

Personally, what I have discovered is that fasting is not a good idea for me. Fasting increases cortisol / stress. And, flying can be a challenge (flights cancelled, late, luggage mis directed, delays, wifi not working in airports, can’t understand foreign language, last minute gate changes, running across airport like a chicken with its head cut off to catch flight to then learn they gave you the wrong gate number…etc.)

There’s always some way to get ketogenic foods. I fly both business class and economy. I’ve peeled cheese and ham off of white bread sandwiches. Nibbled nuts and smoked fish I bought in airport. Asked for triple cream for my tea or coffee. You also need to be open to eat foods from foreign coutries. Don’t freak out at the pickled octopus, or smoked herring, or moldy moldy cheese, or tinned liver pate…etc. no keto foods in airports? I call bullshit on that! Be open and explore.

So…for me…flying stress + fasting stress = uber stress

But, that is my body. Maybe you are different. Test and see how it goes perhaps? Your call.

(Cheryl Meyers) #6

I flew on Singapore Airlines last year, and was amazed that they offered a Low Carb choice of meal. I opted for that, and found it contained fruit… which I didn’t eat. Fasting may be the best option.

(Human) #7

Who are you flying with? There’s usually info on the website even to the point of stating what menu is on what flight on what date. The food on many airlines often isn’t too bad. I flew with EtIhad once and thought the food would be crap so I ticked the box for a vegan raw meal. The guy next to me asked what an earth I had asked for to get a “tray of misery”

(Jackie) #8

My main objective is to beat jetag. Last trip I did not do well, felt awful for 2 days, and slept half the first day. We reach out destination at 8:30 am and I want to hit the ground running.

(Cheryl Meyers) #9

In the old Jetlag diet of the 80s, they recommended eating in the days prior to match the destination’s time–and carb loading too. So a plate of pasta the morning you leave so you sleep through the flight and arrive rested. Not recommending that, but that was the idea.

(Lori Calhoun) #10

The fasting works!!! I just flew from Seattle to Paris. Fasted most all the way, did have some cheese and nuts at about 4:30am my home time. I do usually eat at that time(have a very early shift). And I had little to no JetLag. My daughters took 2 days to fix. I will happily do this again next time I travel!