Beating Jet Lag

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In fact, purported cures and preventatives are often diametrically opposed to each other. One popular vein of jet-lag treatment is diet. Some shamans claim that eating a diet rich in carbohydrates before you depart on a long trip will help mitigate the effects of jet lag. But other diets propose a strict low-carb regime. The best-known anti-jet-lag diet, formulated decades ago at the Argonne National Laboratory, actually mixes high-protein menus with high- and low-carb meals. Whether it, or any diet, actually "works" is a matter of personal impact. Some fliers swear by it, others laugh and keep suffering.

Another popular strain of jet-lag treatment is light therapy. Some travelers fly with special lighting gear to simulate sunlight. Others swear by special eyeshades that block out light. Hotels often play both sides, outfitting their rooms with "blackout" curtains and high-tech lighting fixtures that mimic sunlight.

And then there's melatonin, a naturally occurring hormone created by the pineal gland in response to daylight and darkness information received by the retina. Available since 1993 in the United States as a dietary supplement, melatonin pills are wildly popular with a segment of jet lag-obsessed business travelers. Supporters claim melatonin naturally resets your body clock overnight.

The cornucopia of putative cures also includes herbal remedies (a recent product I received claimed to guard against "a full spectrum of jet lag symptoms"); aromatherapies (popular in the amenities kits distributed by international airlines in their premium classes); and hard drugs (a lot of travelers ingest copious amounts of the prescription sleep aid Ambien). Some travelers claim vigorous exercise is curative, and I know folks who swear by a shot of Fernet Branca, a bitter Italian herbal liqueur, or, in a pinch, a snifter of cognac.

Odd rituals abound too. Some fliers stuff brown paper in their shoes, others believe a barefoot romp on a carpeted floor helps. Still others insist on a shower or a swim upon arrival. And many claim that immediately switching to the local time at your destination when you step onto your departing flight will help your system adjust to the new time zone.

None of these "cures" are right or wrong. The right approach is the one that works for you.

What works for me? I never eat or drink alcoholic beverages on planes. I consume an immense amount of water (in-flight air is extremely low in humidity). After an eastbound flight, I always take a quick nap on arrival. (I'm weirdly energetic after westbound flights.) And years ago, a savvy frequent flier gave me a tip he said he got directly from President Lyndon Johnson: No matter where you are, live your life on your home time zone. So I never change my watch, I eat on New York time wherever I am, and, as much as possible, sleep on New York time too.

Now if I can just figure out why I have jet lag after a train ride…

The Fine Print… Jet-lag treatments sometimes run afoul of local law. A traveler to Dubai was recently jailed for several weeks after he was arrested with a bottle of melatonin pills in his possession.

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