Discover Qantas' secret jet lag remedy featuring delicious foods like chilli and chocolate!
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You may find it hard to believe, but some of our favourite food–such as chilli and chocolate—can help battle jet lag!
Jet lag, often experienced while travelling across multiple time zones, occurs due to misalignment between our internal body clock and the local time at our destination. This can lead to sleep disturbances, fatigue, and even gastrointestinal issues.
This incredible discovery comes from research conducted by Australian airline Qantas and the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Centre, which sought to understand how to improve the inflight experience for passengers on long-haul flights.
The study, known as 'Project Sunrise', examined the effects of various factors, including different lighting, sleep schedules, mealtimes, and movement and exercise, on reducing the severity of jet lag during non-stop flights between Sydney, New York, and London.
While we all know how tiresome ultra-long-haul flights can be, imagine how much better your journey could be with a little help from foods like chocolate and chilli!
These mouth-watering delights have been shown to 'contribute to improved traveller wellbeing' according to the research findings.
So, how did they come to this conclusion?
In 2019, Qantas carried out three Project Sunrise test flights between Sydney, New York, and London.
During these flights, researchers monitored 23 volunteer customers who wore wearable device technology throughout the 20-hour journeys. The volunteers followed a specially designed menu, lighting, sleep, and movement sequences.
Compared to traditional inflight eating and sleeping schedules, the tailored schedules adopted by the participants resulted in less severe jet lag (self-reported), better sleep quality inflight, and improved cognitive performance in the two days following the flights.
These inflight trials included tailored cabin lighting schedules, simple stretch and movement activities, and adjustments to meal services to help realign our biological clocks.
The researchers also incorporated certain menu items, such as fish, chicken paired with fast-acting carbohydrates, soups, and milk-based desserts, to promote the production of the amino acid tryptophan (also known as 'Tryp') in our brains, helping passengers drift off more easily.
In addition to enjoying some chilli and chocolate, here are a few other tips to help you combat jet lag during your travels:
Watch the A350 Cabin Reveal here:
Professor Peter Cistulli, a sleep medicine expert at the University of Sydney, remarked, 'The early results are promising, and it's given us great momentum to look to the next stage of customer research to support Project Sunrise product and service design.'
He added that no other airline had previously conducted extensive research and that 'the early findings have given us optimism that we can make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of international travellers.'
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce is excited about minimising jet lag and revolutionising international aviation for all travellers. The national carrier is scheduled to receive its first A350 in late 2025, with the Project Sunrise launch route between Sydney and New York expected to commence soon after.
So the next time you plan a long-haul flight, remember to pack some chilli, chocolate, and maybe a few other tasty morsels in your carry-on. Your body (and taste buds) will thank you as you tackle jet lag with some delicious remedies!
Members, how do you feel about Qantas' revelation that foods like chilli and chocolate can potentially combat jet lag during long-haul flights? Would you consider incorporating these remedies into your travel routine to improve your inflight experience? Share your thoughts and any other jet lag-fighting tips you may have!
Jet lag, often experienced while travelling across multiple time zones, occurs due to misalignment between our internal body clock and the local time at our destination. This can lead to sleep disturbances, fatigue, and even gastrointestinal issues.
In 2019, Qantas conducted three Project Sunrise research flights from New York and London to Sydney, focusing on jet lag. Image from Flickr
This incredible discovery comes from research conducted by Australian airline Qantas and the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Centre, which sought to understand how to improve the inflight experience for passengers on long-haul flights.
The study, known as 'Project Sunrise', examined the effects of various factors, including different lighting, sleep schedules, mealtimes, and movement and exercise, on reducing the severity of jet lag during non-stop flights between Sydney, New York, and London.
While we all know how tiresome ultra-long-haul flights can be, imagine how much better your journey could be with a little help from foods like chocolate and chilli!
These mouth-watering delights have been shown to 'contribute to improved traveller wellbeing' according to the research findings.
So, how did they come to this conclusion?
In 2019, Qantas carried out three Project Sunrise test flights between Sydney, New York, and London.
During these flights, researchers monitored 23 volunteer customers who wore wearable device technology throughout the 20-hour journeys. The volunteers followed a specially designed menu, lighting, sleep, and movement sequences.
During the research flights, researchers accompanied the aircraft and closely monitored 23 volunteer customers. These participants adhered to a carefully crafted program encompassing a specially designed menu, specific lighting conditions, designated sleep schedules, and prescribed movement sequences. Image by joyceromero from Unsplash
Compared to traditional inflight eating and sleeping schedules, the tailored schedules adopted by the participants resulted in less severe jet lag (self-reported), better sleep quality inflight, and improved cognitive performance in the two days following the flights.
These inflight trials included tailored cabin lighting schedules, simple stretch and movement activities, and adjustments to meal services to help realign our biological clocks.
The researchers also incorporated certain menu items, such as fish, chicken paired with fast-acting carbohydrates, soups, and milk-based desserts, to promote the production of the amino acid tryptophan (also known as 'Tryp') in our brains, helping passengers drift off more easily.
In addition to enjoying some chilli and chocolate, here are a few other tips to help you combat jet lag during your travels:
- Gradually adjust your sleep schedule before your trip
- Stay hydrated throughout the flight
- Avoid heavy meals and alcohol during the flight
Watch the A350 Cabin Reveal here:
Professor Peter Cistulli, a sleep medicine expert at the University of Sydney, remarked, 'The early results are promising, and it's given us great momentum to look to the next stage of customer research to support Project Sunrise product and service design.'
He added that no other airline had previously conducted extensive research and that 'the early findings have given us optimism that we can make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of international travellers.'
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce is excited about minimising jet lag and revolutionising international aviation for all travellers. The national carrier is scheduled to receive its first A350 in late 2025, with the Project Sunrise launch route between Sydney and New York expected to commence soon after.
So the next time you plan a long-haul flight, remember to pack some chilli, chocolate, and maybe a few other tasty morsels in your carry-on. Your body (and taste buds) will thank you as you tackle jet lag with some delicious remedies!
Members, how do you feel about Qantas' revelation that foods like chilli and chocolate can potentially combat jet lag during long-haul flights? Would you consider incorporating these remedies into your travel routine to improve your inflight experience? Share your thoughts and any other jet lag-fighting tips you may have!
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