Foods You Should Never Eat Before Flying

Spread the love

Flying is unpredictable. But one thing you can control is what you eat before you board that soaring metal tube. In the spirit of survival and, more importantly, avoiding embarrassing moments in close quarters, you should watch what you ingest before boarding.

Not every cuisine sits right for the entirety of the flight. Our stomachs have different reactions to different foods at ground level. Go up to 30,000 feet and they will react a whole lot differently because flying puts a strain on the body. After comprehensive research, here are the foods you should never eat before flying;

Please Download Our Mobile App here.

Fried Foods

We all love French flies and well season chicken, but eating fried foods before flying is best avoided. These foods are typically high in fat and sodium, which can trigger heartburn, bloating, and discomfort during a flight. The changes in air pressure can exacerbate these issues, making your journey less enjoyable.

Essentially, your stomach has to work overtime to process such a heavy meal while airborne. The fats and oils in fried foods can cause heartburn, and their high sodium content can lead to fluid retention, resulting in bloating and swelling. So, while those fries may be tempting, your stomach—and fellow passengers—will thank you for passing them up before takeoff.

Red Meat

Eating red meat before flying is generally not recommended because it’s a heavy, hard-to-digest protein that can cause discomfort during a flight. Since red meat takes a long time to break down in the stomach, it puts additional strain on your digestive system. When flying the digestive system has to re-adjust to the changes in cabin pressure at high altitudes. It’s also why food is served long after the plane stabilized.

This slower digestion can lead to bloating, gas, and stomach upset. The digestive process of red meat also tends to produce more gas, which becomes particularly uncomfortable when cabin pressure fluctuates. Additionally, for some individuals, consuming red meat can trigger heartburn or acidity, and the stress of flying can exacerbate these issues, making the experience even more unpleasant.

Coffee

Drinking coffee before flying may seem like a good way to stay alert, but it’s actually a recipe for discomfort. Caffeine acts as a stimulant, which can amplify anxiety or nervousness already triggered by the stress of boarding, security checks, and altitude changes. It can also dehydrate you, making the effects of flying worse, and can lead to discomfort like heartburn or jitters due to air pressure fluctuations.

On top of that, coffee is a diuretic, causing frequent trips to the bathroom, which can be inconvenient, especially on a flight. So, unless you want to battle anxiety, dehydration, and an upset stomach mid-flight, it’s best to skip the coffee before you take off.

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol before flying can be detrimental to your health for several reasons. First, alcohol acts as a diuretic, leading to dehydration, which is exacerbated by the already dry air in an airplane cabin. This dehydration, combined with prolonged sitting during a flight, increases the risk of developing blood clots.

Additionally, alcohol disrupts sleep, and with the already low oxygen levels in a plane, the quality of sleep can be further compromised. The combination of alcohol, reduced sleep quality, and altitude can lower your blood oxygen saturation, while also increasing your heart rate. This puts unnecessary strain on your cardiovascular system.

Although alcohol might initially calm your nerves, its effects can lead to increased anxiety later on, leaving you feeling worse instead of relaxed. The risks are particularly high for individuals with pre-existing heart or lung conditions, older adults, and those who take sleeping pills.

Beans

Eating beans before flying is a recipe for discomfort due to the body’s difficulty in digesting a sugar called oligosaccharide. It’s found in legumes like beans. The human digestive system struggles to fully break down oligosaccharide, leading to the production of gas and bloating.

In the confined space of an airplane, this can quickly become uncomfortable—not only for you but for your fellow passengers as well. So, while beans are a nutritious option on the ground, they’re best avoided before a flight to prevent an unwelcome “air” situation.

Apples

Eating apples before flying is generally not recommended due to their high fiber content, which can lead to gas and bloating during a flight. The changing air pressure in an airplane cabin can make fiber harder to digest, causing gas build-up in your digestive system. This results in discomfort, especially on longer flights where the effects can be amplified.

The bloating from fiber-rich foods like apples can leave you feeling uneasy as you soar through the skies. If you’re craving fruit before your flight, it’s better to opt for lower-fiber alternatives like bananas or berries to avoid potential discomfort.

Cruciferous vegetables

Eating our veggies is highly recommended by many medical practitioners. However, having broccoli before flying is a recipe for discomfort, both for you and your fellow passengers. Like beans, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are known for causing gas. This is due to their high fiber content and a type of sugar called raffinose, which is notorious for triggering bloating.

This can leave you feeling gassy and uncomfortable mid-flight, potentially turning you into an unpleasant seatmate as the air pressure exacerbates the issue. It’s best to save these gas-producing greens for after your flight, when you’re not confined to a small space with others.

Spicy foods

Eating spicy food before flying is generally a bad idea because it can cause significant discomfort during the flight. Spicy foods, particularly those containing capsaicin, can irritate the stomach lining, leading to discomfort that’s worsened by the changes in cabin pressure. This can also result in increased gas production, causing bloating and making you feel even more uncomfortable.

For some passengers, spicy food can trigger heartburn, and the pressure changes in the airplane cabin may amplify this effect. Also, the digestive response to spicy foods often leads to frequent bathroom trips, which is not ideal when confined to a small space for hours.

Conclusion

While your travel experience is a wonderful adventure, your stomach’s ability to handle certain foods is not as resilient as your wanderlust. Opt for foods that won’t disrupt your flight, and save the daring culinary experiments for when you’re on solid ground. Your fellow passengers—and your digestive system—will be eternally grateful!

More Posts

Guide to Spending A Weekend in Osaka, Japan

Spread the love

Spread the loveJapan is one of those countries you never really get over. It’s a country where lights shine a little brighter, the food tastes a little richer, and you might just find yourself accidentally taking a detour through a neon wonderland of chaos and charm. Osaka is one of the most visited Japanese cities,

Best Winery Hotels in the World

Spread the love

Spread the loveIn today’s fast-paced world, experiences go a long way in forging life-long memories. When the term “room service” conjures up images of sommeliers bringing you a glass of vintage, you know you’ve arrived at one of the world’s best winery hotels. These destinations aren’t just about sipping vino; they’re immersive experiences where vineyard

Best Safari Lodges in Africa

Spread the love

Spread the loveAfrica is the land where lions roar, elephants stomp, and giraffes strike the occasional awkward pose. But let’s face it, you didn’t travel halfway across the globe to sleep in a tent that smells like a campfire and regret it after 10 minutes of trying to swat away mosquitoes the size of small

Best Places to Experience Ancient Civilization

Spread the love

Spread the loveDo you have a penchant for dusty ruins, intricate hieroglyphs, and whispered tales from millennia ago? If so, it’s time to channel your inner Indiana Jones (minus the snakes) and embark on a journey to the world’s most awe-inspiring ancient civilizations. From towering temples to enigmatic cities, these destinations offer more than just

Exit mobile version