Fight Jet Lag with Cherries

How do you and/or your clients handle jet lag? Lots of water? Melatonin supplements? Perhaps methods you'd rather not mention in a crowded room?

If your clients are taking a long journey across time zones this summer, or during any season for that matter, you may want to suggest they pack some tart cherries for the ride. According to medical experts at Free Radical Research, the naturally rich melatonin levels in the fruit can help fight jet lag. Melatonin is the antioxidant produced naturally by the body to help regulate biorhythm and natural sleep patterns.

According to Russel J. Reiter, Ph.D, professor at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences for the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio, TX, cherries are believed to be one of the most concentrated food sources of melatonin. The body of research conducted by Reiter revealed that a handful of cherries contain more melatonin than what is normally found in the blood, helping your body get in sync with the new time zone while you travel. Studies suggests melatonin works best when consumed one hour prior to the desired sleep time on the plane and for three or more consecutive evenings after arrival, depending on the number of time zones crossed.