THE FOODS YOU SHOULD (AND SHOULDN'T) EAT ON A LONG-HAUL FLIGHT

The last thing you want when travelling is to feel dehydrated or have an upset stomach, which is why a nutritionist has revealed the surprising food and drink you should eat and the ones you should consider avoiding.

Flying can cause a host of issues, from dry skin to popping ears and bloating. The latter is a common problem for a number of plane passengers, causing discomfort for some but also nausea and stomach pain for others.

But thankfully it can be mitigated with a few alterations before and during your journey, letting you focus on your city break or beach getaway, instead of what’s going on in your digestive system. Ellie Birch, senior nutritionist at Holland & Barrett, told Condé Nast Traveller that there is ‘no evidence’ that we should eat differently when flying.

However, there are some small tweaks to our eating habits we can do to help our digestive system, such as increasing how much water we intake to counteract the lack of humidity on planes.

Avoid consuming food and drinks that are considered dehydrating as well, such as alcohol.

That said, there is one cocktail (and quite a rogue choice) that passengers could opt for to make themselves feel less dehydrated compared to other alcoholic beverages.

Stephanie Smith, a women’s health nutritionist for Agora Health, said: ‘If you do want to drink alcohol, opt for something like a single Bloody Mary – tomato juice is a source of electrolytes as well as being antioxidant rich.’ 

Ryanair launches £8 cocktail menu

Travellers love Ryanair because of the low prices and the tempting destinations on offer. And now holidaymakers can boost their in-flight experience by having a tipple or two from the airline’s official cocktail menu.

The Irish budget brand has launched ‘ready to drink’ cocktails which do sound delish.

Unfortunately, there are no Bloody Mary cocktails. But here are the ones you can get:

  • Dublin Lemonade (Jameson Irish Whiskey, Sprite Zero and sparkling water)
  • Fruit Snack, (Bombay Sapphire Gin, Sprite Zero and Capri-sun)
  • Rose Spritz (rose wine and Sprite Zero)
  • Flying Iced Tea (Bombay Sapphire Gin, Absolut Vodka and Coca-Cola).

Stay away from coffee, and other caffeinated drinks – especially if you’re a nervous flyer. The stimulant affects the nervous system and increases the production of hormones like adrenaline.

Instead, Stephanie suggests having a hot cacao, a herbal tea, a matcha latte made with almond milk or a decaf version of your favourite drink. 

Salty food, because of salt’s link to exacerbating dehydration, headaches and fatigue, are also on the list of things to avoid, including ultra-processed food because of the high salt content. Instead, snack on fruit, nuts, seeds, or dark chocolate. 

Ashleigh Tosh, health and nutrition expert from Prepped Pots, previously shared with Metro.co.uk tips about how to avoid feeling bloated on planes. She said to avoid foods that generally cause you to feel bloated, fizzy drinks, chewing gum and heavy meals. 

The expert also suggested choosing an aisle seat, as it’ll be a lot easier to get up and have a short walk if you’re feeling uncomfortable. 

Teas like peppermint, ginger and chamomile are all known for reducing bloating, and Ashleigh says the reason why chewing gum is a no-no is because it can cause you to swallow excess air. 

Additionally, it may be worth trying chocolate has been found to reduce the impact of jet lag and make you feel less groggy.

Who doesn’t want another excuse to eat chocolate!

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2024-05-29T15:20:29Z dg43tfdfdgfd