While getting to travel is great, dealing with a change in time zone can really put a damper on your good time, at least for the first few days. People have all sorts of advice when it comes to how to battle jet lag, but it turns out something as simple as what you eat can help get your body clock back on track.
A yearlong study by Qantas airlines set out to discover the best ways to beat jet lag and found that certain foods can put passengers in a better position to recover. Those foods include chili and chocolate, as well as anything that will “promote the brain’s production of the amino acid tryptophan,” according to the study. That includes fish and chicken, combined with certain fast-acting carbs. Other foods include soups and milk-based desserts.
But food isn’t the only thing that helps. The study determined that tailoring the lighting, as well as the sleep and dining schedules, to adapt to the new time zone also helped travelers acclimate better to their new destination. Movement and exercise helped, as well.
All this info will be helpful to Qantas, which in 2025 is introducing direct flights from Sydney, Australia, to London and New York, which will last almost 22 hours.
Survey questions, methodology and results have not been verified or endorsed by ABC News or The Walt Disney Company.