The Time Zone Shuffle Leaves us Cold |

So, I am including these findings for two reasons. One, the article the other day about mom’s microbiome and the potentiality for the infant to develop autism. And, second, my recent set of travels – which thankfully left me without jet lag, although my friend had some symptoms.

I always attributed my not manifesting jet lag due to the fact that I commuted long distance between Charlottesville (VA) and Long Beach (CA) for years. Plus a series of other long distance travels.

But, as my friend recognized, jet lag is not just feeling groggy due to crossing multiple time zones. (I also discussed how travel cross country- actually crossing two or more time zones- affected baseball performance.)

It turns out that jet lag affects our microbiome- which means our well-being and our immune function becomes at risk if we suffer jet lag. It’s not surprising, since jet lag means that our circadian clock is upset- and changing time zones means that we are now on a 15, 16, 17, 18, 26, 27, or 28 hour clock. Not 24. (OK. Our circadian clock is actually closer to 25 hours, but we’ll deal with that problem some other time.)

But, it’s other factors at risk. Like our core body temperature. Most people have a drop in core body temperature that reaches its lowest about two hours before we awake. (That also sets how sleepy or rested we feel.) So, if jet travel affects us, our core body temperature may not drop to the level to which we are accustomed- making us feel groggy. It doesn’t help that the plane may be more lit than our bedrooms- and if our body senses the light is antithetical to our core temperature, it becomes highly confused. (If the body senses light- it wants us to be wide awake- regardless of our core body temperature.)

So, let’s pick my recent travel. We left Dulles around 5 PM. If I were a normal sleeper, then would mean around 12 hours later, my core body temperature would be at its low point. That’s what happened to my friend. I tend to go to sleep around 3 and wake up at 6. So, my core body temperature is at its lowest around 4 AM. (I actually know this from a program I run almost every day.)

My friend and his daughter nodded off around 10 PM. Except the destination time was then 5 AM. No way would their core body temperatures be at their lowest.

I took only a 45 minute nap. Knowing full well that I would be in Germany around 12 AM. Well before I would normally consider going to sleep. On my next flight, from Frankfurt to Berlin- I hit the bricks right away. And, got another 1 hour nap.

(I did sleep well at the end of the first day in Berlin- making sure I got more than my normal complement of sleep. Nipping jet lag in the bud. And, that is the key- we need to hold off our sleep until it’s appropriate for the new location. And, we also need to use the new time zone’s clock for our meal times. Along with consuming tons of water- to make sure our gut is hydrated and won’t exacerbate our jet lag.)

But, jet lag conditions may be worse when we fly west. (I also discussed that in the baseball player performance article mentioned above.) Because light exposure comes first- long before the core temperature minimum. That’s why some folks use that dark shades over their eyes. To make sure the body experiences darkness sooner, rather than later. (You can do this too, by picking a light exposure plan- check out http://jetlagrooster.com )

I didn’t have any problems coming home, either- or for my trip to California.