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Boulder City Magazine® February 2010 Issue Short Story Spotlight on Business Tech Tip Book Watch BCPD Informer Your Health Recreation Zone Home Care A Kid's View Mayor's Brief Money Matters Lawyer's Edge Boulder City History The Arts Day Trip'n Reid Report Travel Now Library Corner

Travel Now by Ihla Crowley Drifter Sister Five Foods To Avoid Air travel can be uncomfortable, for several reasons, not the least of which is indigestion and bloating. Knowing what not to eat before getting on the plane might help to control your comfort level. Airport dining options are limited, but with discipline, avoiding the gut-busting trifecta of grease, alcohol and carbonation can help with a bloat-free flight.

1. Worst Offender – Greasy, artery-clogging fast food joints typically found in airports (think Big Mac and Whopper). Laden with sodium and saturated fats, the fare found here is hard to digest under normal circumstances, let alone at 37,000 feet. Plus, the sodium could contribute to swollen feet, possibly leading to the dreaded ‘economy class syndrome,’ officially known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the formation of a blood clot in the leg. 2. The Gas Giants – It’s smart to avoid foods that encourage intestinal expansion, since the pressurized airplane cabin promotes further bloating. Again, fried and super-saturated dishes, but even some ‘healthy’ foods, such as onions, cauliflower, cabbage, beans, can add to the problem. 3. Alcohol – Some travelers consider a few cocktails part of their pre-flight protocol, to quell fear of flying, or as an aid to sleep. But doctors suggest avoiding alcohol before a flight, as its diuretic tendencies contribute to dehydration and can make it difficult to fall back to sleep once awakened. 4. Carbonated Beverages – Are dehydrating and can contribute to bloating and cramping. As Lufthansa puts it on their web site: “Try to avoid carbonated drinks such as cola because they cause wind and also have a diuretic effect.” 5. Everything – A study in the Journal of Science suggests that fasting for about 16 hours before a long flight may help to fend off jet lag. Apparently, in addition to our internal clock triggered by light, we have another clock that senses when food is in short supply. We might be able to adjust to time zone changes by manipulating this second clock, based on hunger. Make your body think it’s starving, remaining awake and alert until it’s dinner time in your new destination, and reset your body’s light clock in the process. Source: IndependentTraveler.com For more travel tips and fun tourist destinations, check out www.driftersister.com. Catch the wind… Taste the rain… And touch all of your tomorrows…

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