How to Properly Dehydrate the Body During a Long Flight
Flying is severely dehydrated. You probably know that drinking water before, during and after a flight is a good idea, but how much is enough?
Why flying dehydrates you
If you get off the plane and feel like shit, it’s not because you’re sick, but probably because of dehydration. Not drinking and keeping enough water can make you tired, headaches, nauseous, and more, and an airplane is the perfect environment to flush all the moisture out of you.
Basically, you are flying in a heavenly desert , where humidity hovers around 10-20% (drier than the Sahara) thanks to the airplane’s air circulation system. Compare that to the typical 30-60% humidity you’re used to on the ground and it’s no surprise that flying dehydrates you. Physiotherapist Yasmine Badiani tells Marie Claire that much of your water loss is due to insufficient cabin humidity and oxygen-thinned air, which increases your breathing rate. Plus, you probably sweat a little if you have nerves when you fly. Badiani says men can lose about two liters of water in a 10-hour flight (4% body water), while women lose about 1.6 liters.
How much water should you drink
How much water you need to drink depends on the duration of the flight. According to the Aerospace Medicine Association , you should drink about eight ounces of water for every hour you are in the air . Peter Hackett, M.D., director of the Institute for Altitude Medicine, told Condé Nast Traveler that this is especially true if you are on a flight longer than three or four hours. “Otherwise, flights shorter than this won’t be too dehydrating,” says Hackett.
But don’t drink all the water at once. Leonard Smith, a gastrointestinal and vascular surgeon, explains to Mel that drinking an entire bottle of water right away is not enough to hydrate. If you drink too much water too quickly, you dilute your blood, which causes the kidneys to excrete water faster, which means that you drain all that water before your body can use it to hydrate. No panting! However, if you drink too much water, you are at least forcing yourself to get up and go to the bathroom, which helps prevent blood clots in your legs. But you can always get up to move, even if you don’t need to use the toilet.
Makeup for whatever booze you drink
So the drink cart is coming and you die for Bloody Mary (do mine double). This is fine, but ask for a cup of water in addition to your cocktail . One eight ounce cup of water is enough for each drink. And if you can help, try to consume as little alcohol as possible. I know this is tempting.
Other ways to stay hydrated
Water isn’t the only way to prevent your body from turning into dry husks. You can also get a lot of liquid from coffee – don’t believe the myth that it dehydrates you even more – or tea. Just keep in mind that the water on an airplane is not always this clean and that it is used to make it. Some flight attendants even hesitate to drink coffee or tea .
If you are concerned about this, you can always bring a moisturizing snack with you . Fruits, vegetables, and even yogurt can help tremendously. However, do not eat foods that are too high in salt. If you have dry sinuses, a saline nasal spray can also help prevent dryness of your nose, which can help prevent headaches. Finally, dry cabin air takes its toll on your skin . A small bottle of lotion less than 3 ounces can do wonders for your skin.