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Notes & Links

Starving may fend off jetlag

Starving yourself before a long flight may help prevent jet lag, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.

Normally, the body's natural circadian clock in the brain dictates when to wake, eat and sleep, all in response to light. But it seems a second clock takes over when food is scarce, and manipulating this clock might help travelers adjust to new time zones, they said.

"A period of fasting with no food at all for about 16 hours is enough to engage this new clock," said Dr. Clifford Saper of Harvard Medical School, whose study appears in the journal Science.

This article appears to be getting a great deal of coverage. There is a tendency to want to get all the possible benefits from the exorbitant prices we are paying for airfare. This includes, at least on Asian flights, a selection of drinks and somewhat suspect food. Most have realized for some time that eating little to nothing and drinking plenty of fluids helps combat jetlag. This article reports on research that suggests taking this to a whole new level. But I doubt most will skip the meal cart as it bangs it's way down the aisle.

Link.

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