Something Can Be Done About Jet Lag!

Welcome to our site. I hope you find this data useful and that we can help you find relief from your jet lag problems.

The Problem of Jet Lag

When I flew for the first time many decades ago, I had a hard time coping with it, despite only being in my early twenties. I was about five months pregnant at the time and had to be attended to by a doctor on board due to dizziness and excessive swelling of my ankles and I felt really awful. After landing at my destination, I was completely out of it for almost the entire week I was there and dreaded the return trip. I assumed the symptoms were just due to being pregnant.

However, the next time I flew, some years later, the same thing happened. It took me almost a week to get over that trip too. At the time I didn’t understand what caused it. I asked my friends and others around me if they also felt that way and many of them told me that they sometimes take up to a week to recover from their trips. I didn’t know that this condition was known as jet lag.

Jet lag can really put a dampener on a vacation and I couldn’t imagine how a businessman would feel trying to conduct meetings and negotiations. Imagine how the flying crew must feel.

Some Common Jet Lag Symptoms

Anxiety

Clammy sweat

Poor concentration

Constipation

Crying or wanting to cry

Diarrhea

Palpitations

Disorientation

Drowsiness

Dizziness or light-headedness

Dry cough

Dry skin or eyes

Fatigue

Swollen feet or hands‘

Flu or colds

Headaches

Irregular heartbeat

Hemorrhoids

Irritability

Insomnia

Fogginess

Lowered immune system

Nausea

Sleepiness

Tiredness

Lethargic

Extreme tiredness

Soon after my second flight, I got into the nutrition business and decided I had to find out what causes the phenomena called jet lag so I started researching it and discovered that these symptoms of jet lag are actually symptoms of dehydration. The air control in the plane, (and even in our own homes and offices for that matter) whether it be the dry heat during the cold months or the air conditioning during the summer, lower the humidity in the environment causing our bodies to dehydrate. Drinking water does not do the trick. In fact, just drinking water can make it much worse because you most likely will urinate excessively and so lose more and minerals. It’s the loss of the minerals that causes dehydration.

Preventing Jet Lag

I have put together a product, Instant CalMag-C, which consists of calcium gluconate, magnesium carbonate and vitamin C. It has been formulated in the doctor-recommended ratio of 2:1 calcium to magnesium and the vitamin C to ensure that the pH is correct, to make it absorb instantly into the body without having to be digested, like pills (and proper pH is essential in preventing dehydration). It comes in a powder form. You just dissolve a teaspoon of it in hot water and drink it like a tea. You can add your favorite tea bag if you like, or chill it and add your favorite juice.

Calcium and magnesium also coat the nerves to help you relax and sleep on the plane, and helps prevent the irritability many people experience with jet lag. The magnesium helps prevent fatigue and tiredness associated with jet lag as well.

In addition to the Instant CalMag-C, I use something called Cell Salts. “Salts” is another word for minerals and is not to be confused with salt as we know it from the table or kitchen. Cell salts contain minute doses of other minerals needed to maintain correct hydration in the body, so you don’t swell on the one hand, or get extremely thirsty on the other.

You place them under the tongue where they dissolve and are absorbed immediately into the body. They’re slightly sweet and pleasant-tasting. I even gave these to my children when they were babies and they were irritable and upset. Along with their daily intake of Instant CalMag-C and Cell Salts, I had very calm kids.

Do not forget that children and babies suffer from the ill effects of jet lag just as much as we do.

Oxygen Levels

Another factor is the oxygen levels. When you’re flying, there is an attempt to maintain adequate oxygen levels in the cabin but it isn’t possible to do it adequately. You’re flying at a very high altitude and because of this, these levels are lower than what you’d get on planet earth.

As such, this makes it even tougher.

So, my tips for a better flight without the side effects of jet lag are:

1. Keep your intake of coffee, alcohol, soft drinks sugar and white flour products down as much as possible, as these things increase dehydration.

2. Sleep as much as you can while flying. (Instant CalMag-C will help you with this.)

3. Drink plenty of water.

4. Take plenty of Instant CalMag-C along with the Cell Salts

All airplanes have a galley and the flight crew is very helpful. They will allow you to mix yourself a glass in the galley or bring you the hot water. On many occasions, they even join me in a glassful.

If I notice a fellow passenger experiencing discomfort, I usually offer them some too and they are really grateful. Starbucks will also help you with hot and cold water and ice in the airport buildings. Don’t hesitate to ask.

Nowadays, I can fly a couple of times a year across many time zones, arrive at my destination and adjust immediately to it without any of the symptoms I previously experienced. It makes such a difference I can hardly recall the “agony” of my first flying experiences.

Flying can be trying for many people and if there’s any way we can contribute to making it easier, we feel we would have helped. I hope you found this information useful and we wish you happy, jet lag-free flying.