Crossing multiple time zones can wreak havoc on even the most sophisticated flyer's circadian rhythms, and frequent travelers have come up with their own solutions to combat its debilitating symptoms. Some work, like avoiding alcohol before and during the flight and getting a good night's sleep the night before you travel. But a new report from a sleep expert at the New York State Psychiatric Institute says that one method that some people have sworn by for years -- taking melatonin supplements -- may not the ultimate answer to resolving jet lag. 

While melatonin can help reset the body's rhythms by shifting your internal clock, it can't alleviate are all the symptoms associated with jet lag -- or the stress of travel itself. Things like running through busy airports, altered diets, and sudden weather changes, all of which contribute to the exhaustion and sleep disturbances of jet lag. 

Although some people fly long distances and never experience any jet lag, the smart thing to do is try to eliminate some of the stresses of travel by planning ahead so you don't begin your trip out of breath and in a panic over whether you'll miss your flight. Pack the night before, eat a good breakfast, and arrive early for your flight. 

Oh, and have a wonderful trip! 

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E is for Excellent

Q: I recently read that large doses of vitamin E can be harmful. What's your take on this? 

JVW: Vitamin E still remains a wise choice to prevent disease and maintain good health. That study, which was so widely publicized, has many flaws. 

First, the study was partially funded by the patent medicine industry. And, as you know, they don't make money when people elect to take supplements instead of their medications. 

Secondly, the data they gathered comes from a combination of 19 other studies that included patients with chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and kidney failure. The researchers extrapolated information from a population that contained subjects already at risk for early morbidity and applied that data to all healthy individuals. 

I don't think this one study even remotely proved that taking vitamin E is a cause for alarm. This one report doesn't come close to outweighing all the positive, previous investigations into this highly beneficial supplement. 

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What is....melatonin? 

Melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland, helps our bodies regulate our sleep-wake cycles. The amount we produce lessens as we age, and scientists have attributed this loss to the difficulty some older people have in sleeping. 

Yours in good health,
Amanda Ross
Managing Editor
Nutrition & Healing 

 Sources:
"Really?" The New York Times (Health & Fitness section), 3/29/05