One of the biggest complaints that you will hear from international travelers is the inability to recover from jet lag. However, it appears that scientists may have cracked the code with a mathematical formula to adjust to a new time zone – which could put an end to jet lag as we know it. These findings were recently published as a research article in the journal PLOS Computational Biology.
Travelers have gone great lengths to overcome jet lag, and it makes sense. No one wants to feel tired or grumpy while they are trying to enjoy a vacation in a new city. This is why many have turned to medications to overcome their sleepiness. However, there may be an all-natural way to get rid of jet lag. Scientists have understood that this phenomenon has a lot to do with circadian rhythm (your body’s natural clock). This had lead many doctors to believe that light is crucial to overcoming jet lag. The only factors they haven’t figured out is the amount of light and time of day – until now.
By using an example of a flight from Detroit to London, scientists discovered that to overcome the effects of jet lag, their mathematical formula would require the passenger to be exposed to sunlight from 7:40 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the first day. On the second day, the passenger would then need to be exposed to sunlight at 6:20 a.m. then be exposed to darkness at 7:40 p.m. This mathematical equation continues until the circadian rhythm is fully adjusted to the new surroundings.
Although this may not be a practical solution for travelers at the moment, it is a giant step forward for scientists to eventually unlock the keys to banishing jet lag for good. To protect your travel investment, it is recommended to purchase trip protection.
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