Fasting May Reset Sleep Cycle, Cure Jet Lag
Researchers may have come up with a way to quickly beat jet lag—don't eat for 16 hours. Fasting seems to reset brain cells that influence the circadian rhythms of mice. That's the catch. The technique works with rodents, but the researchers at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston speculate that it will work with humans, too. What the heck—it's not going to hurt too much to experiment on yourself, right? [via Lifehacker]
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4 Comments:
The worst jetlag i had was when i was flying non-stop between Bangkok and JFK. So.. not only was i sitting on a plane for 17 hours, there was a 13 hour time difference. After a day like that, there is no way I'm going to want to starve myself for 16 hours so I can sleep normally. You might as well pop a sleeping pill, feel miserable for a bit and then get over it!
engmcmuffin at 4:00PM on 08/06/09
I travel extensively and this really works! Drink plenty of water and/or tea and break the fast by eating according to the local times. If it's breakfast, eat breakfast. If mid-day meal, eat that... you get the idea. Getting acclimated to a 13 hour time difference faster is SO worth not eating for 16 hours!
travelingirl at 4:29PM on 08/08/09
@ engmcmuffin: The article actually states that you fast prior to and during the flight, ending the fast when you arrive at your destination.
PommeDG at 6:07PM on 08/08/09
I tried this with flight from Narita to JFK... did not work, even after a full 24 hours of not eating.
vivosergirl at 9:48AM on 08/15/09