Could
this be the end of jet lag?
How do
soldiers remain alert when they are flown to and from far-away places? The
answer could lie in what they eat in the run-up time. A report in London’s
Evening Standard recently claimed that the American government
commissioned scientists to deal with the problem of jet lag in a top-secret
military project.
The scientists came up with the feasting and
fasting diet, and it works like this. Three days before a journey (the
example given is from London to New York, but other journeys may need fewer
or more days), you alternate the eating pattern.
The first day of the three should include three
proper meals, all high in protein, with generous helpings. That means lots
of meat, fish, eggs, cheese.
The following day is not exactly fasting, but
the three small meals should be low in carbohydrates and calories, which
means lots of salad, green vegetables, fruit, little fat or bread, pasta,
etc, or high-calorie meat.
On the flight day, day three, the rule is to
repeat the fast day and drink coffee only between 3pm and 5 pm, and get to
sleep on the plane as soon as possible.
The secret lies in the way we metabolise
different foods and the messages received in the brain from foods
stimulating different chemicals. One piece of research mentioned in the
report claims that travellers on the diet are seven times less likely to
experience jet lag travelling east and sixteen times less likely travelling
west.
What to
take when you can’t stay awake
Excessive
Sleepiness (ES) is a recognised condition, defined as difficulty in
maintaining wakefulness and increased likelihood of falling asleep in
inappropriate situations. It’s not to be confused with fatigue, but it can
affect otherwise healthy people as well as those suffering from Parkinson’s
disease, depression, and those who work shifts.
The drug Provigil, a treatment that promotes
wakefulness, has a new extended license in the UK, making it available for
several conditions including shift workers with chronic sleep disorder.
Clinical
trials showed marked improvement in people suffering from sleep disorders,
with greater alertness when reading, watching television, attending
meetings, or being in a car as a passenger. Main side effect was temporary
headache. Provogil appears to work by acting on the sleep-wake centres of
the brain. If you need to know more, talk to your GP.
Mind-control
It’s not
often (ever?) that you will find mention of a computer game in these
columns, but that’s before I learned about The Journey to Wild Divine,
a computer game with a difference.
It claims to reduce high blood pressure and
create a sense of calm through deep breathing techniques, and is based on
the principles of biofeedback machines which register stress levels through
fingertip sensors, so that you become aware of your reactions and modify
them as needed.
The game uses colour images to provide visual
clues to your reactions as your fingertips relay messages through plastic
fingertip sensors. The game involves various activities such as shooting
arrows or controlling a flight path of geese, which demand dexterity and,
ideally, a relaxed approach.
Find out more about The Journey to
the Wild Divine through the website:
www.wilddivine.com
. It’s not cheap, at
$159 plus, but is certainly worth a look.
If in any doubt about any of the
information covered in healthwise articles and it's relevance for you, consult your GP.
In edition 49:-
New thoughts on DVT
A greater risk than previously
thought, for frequent long-haul flyers
White coat syndrome
30% of people suffer from this
reaction and it can result in unnecessary medication
Do Echinacea & borage
oil work?
Research indicates they don`t.
Problems of obesity
The government is concerned
about our increasingly overweight population
Self-examination of breasts?
A study suggests women who
self-examine regularly mainly fail to detect genuine tumours
Bristol cancer care latest
The launch of a range of new
courses for people affected by cancer, including those supporting someone with cancer
Pet care industry
Animals have health needs too.
How good is your vet?
New non-laser eye treatment
Conductive Kerotoplasty is a
new corrective eye treatment for long sight, which does not involve cuts or incisions
Free eye tests at home
Valuable service for the
housebound
Maximise your memory
