Sunshine to meal times: How to beat jet lag
Jet lag occurs when rapid travel across time zones disrupts the body's internal circadian rhythms, which are primarily regulated by sunlight. Experts suggest that managing exposure to light and adjusting meal times can help the body's master clock synchronize with a new destination.
Why it matters
Understanding the biological mechanisms of jet lag provides practical health advice for global travelers and shift workers.
Image source, Getty Images By Dominic Hughes Health correspondent Published 11 minutes ago Many will have experienced it – that feeling at 3pm when all you want to do is go to bed and sleep like a log.
Or, finding yourself wide awake at 3am, brain whirring and no prospect of sleep.
Jet lag - the world's most annoying holiday souvenir – is the price we pay for flying off around the globe on travels or holidays.
So how does it work, and what can you do about it?
Jet lag is what you feel when local time changes abruptly, but your body clock is playing catch up, says Dr Nina Rzechorzek, who leads research at the University of Cambridge on human brain temperature, sleep, and circadian rhythms.
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