Do not overeat
After the plane ascends to a high altitude, the blood supply to the gastrointestinal tract decreases accordingly, leading to a reduction in gastrointestinal secretions and weakened intestinal motility. Therefore, it is generally advisable to eat until you are about 80% full before flying to avoid affecting digestion and absorption.
Eat less high-fiber and gas-producing foods
Research has found that the amount of gas produced in the human intestine increases by two times when in the air compared to being on the ground. Therefore, you should avoid gas-producing foods such as soybeans, radishes, potatoes, carbonated drinks, etc., before flying to prevent symptoms such as chest tightness, bloating, belching, and stomach discomfort.
Be careful not to eat too greasy food
Excessively greasy food is emptied slowly from the stomach, stays for a long time, and is difficult to digest, generally requiring four to five hours to be expelled from the stomach. After the plane reaches a high altitude, more gas is produced in the stomach, which can cause the gastrointestinal tract to expand. Additionally, at high altitudes, gastric juice secretion decreases and intestinal motility weakens, making it difficult to digest and absorb too much greasy food. This can easily lead to symptoms such as hiccups and bloating.
To adapt to the physiological characteristics of air travel, you should eat foods that are high in calories, rich in vitamins, and easy to digest to replenish the energy your body needs.
The following foods can be eaten before or during a flight:
1. Grain products: Bread, various pastries, biscuits, noodles, fried noodles, etc.:
2. Dairy products: Cheese, cream, yogurt, etc.:
3. Egg products: Cake, egg pastries, egg soup, etc.:
4. Vegetables: Greens, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc.
5. Meat products: Various lean meats, meat floss, animal liver, etc.:
6. Sweets: Fruit juice, jam, preserved fruits, chocolate, honey, etc.:
7. Fruits: Apples, bananas, pears, grapes, citrus, etc.
As long as you pay attention to the dietary do's and don'ts before flying, you can avoid or alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort and make your air travel more pleasant!