Traveling to exotic places is great--except when you first get there and collapse from exhaustion and jet lag. But you may be able to beat jet lag; you just have to skip eating before you leave home.
A new Harvard University study suggests that fasting may fight drowsiness.
Our bodies have two internal "clocks"--a body clock, which is sensitive to daylight, and a "feeding clock," which keeps track of meal times.
Using mice, researchers altered a gene called BMAL1 that regulates the body clock. In one part of the experiment, they made the mice sleep, even through hunger--meaning unless woken, the mice could have starved to death.
More importantly, they discovered that the feeding clock could overpower the circadian clock, keeping mice up until they found something to nibble on.
Researchers say you can shift your body clock by changing your eating schedule. In particular, they say fasting can help with jet lag.
Simply avoiding any food on the plane, and then eating as soon as you land, should help you to adjust and avoid some of the uncomfortable feelings of jet lag.
A new Harvard University study suggests that fasting may fight drowsiness.
Our bodies have two internal "clocks"--a body clock, which is sensitive to daylight, and a "feeding clock," which keeps track of meal times.
Using mice, researchers altered a gene called BMAL1 that regulates the body clock. In one part of the experiment, they made the mice sleep, even through hunger--meaning unless woken, the mice could have starved to death.
More importantly, they discovered that the feeding clock could overpower the circadian clock, keeping mice up until they found something to nibble on.
Researchers say you can shift your body clock by changing your eating schedule. In particular, they say fasting can help with jet lag.
Simply avoiding any food on the plane, and then eating as soon as you land, should help you to adjust and avoid some of the uncomfortable feelings of jet lag.
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