Word to the Wise: 4 Tips for Air Travel During the Holidays

It’s finally that time of the year again; the season for giving and the season to be thankful, the season for hot beverages on crisp evenings and perhaps most importantly, the season for sales and discounts. Everyone is on the sharp lookout for the hottest deals, be it a half-priced sweater or a stellar holiday package deal.

Traveling during the holiday season is a trend that has rapidly grown in the past few years and by the looks of it, it is a trend that is here to stay. More and more people are now keen on the idea of taking advantage of the competitive packages to escape to a warmer destination during the winter while some seek out adventurous winter sport trips. With everyone looking for a getaway, it is not surprising that traveling during the holidays is nothing short of a nightmare with overpacked airports, overbooked hotels and overwhelming delays due to inhospitable weather conditions.

Air travel is stressful enough on a regular day and during the holiday season, the prospect is  made extra daunting by regular delays, extended waits for luggage, missed connections and cramped flights. The very thought of an unfortunate combination of the above mentioned air travel disasters is enough to make anyone cringe at the thought of traveling during the holidays. And of course, there is road travel with treacherous roads and ridiculous traffic, but that we can worry about another day. Assuming we make it past the icy death roads and the traffic that can inspire the most dramatic of road-rages, there are a few simple steps that can lead to more a peaceful air travel, even if a glitch-free trip can never really be guaranteed.

1. Plan in advance: Seems obvious enough and yet many a holiday trip has been marred by simple oversights that could easily be avoided by planning ahead. Pre-booking, re-confirming and double-checking are simple steps that may seem time consuming, but are more likely to save you time in the grand scheme of events. Also, planning ahead gives you the opportunity to snag the best deals, the off-peak cheaper flights and good travel dates.

2. Keep ample time in hand: There is almost always something left to do last minute and in all the hustle bustle, rushing to the airport, furiously praying for empty roads and green lights is not an uncommon scenario. The domino effect of this is that you will inevitably be five minutes behind schedule for the rest of the boarding process. Try to leave early and anticipate appropriate travel time to the airport. Also, flights delays are not uncommon at this time of the year; be mentally prepared for long waits and bring reading material to pass the time as you wait for your flight to be ready after de-icing.

3. Be prudent about packing: Most of us are guilty of overpacking most of the time. The idea of going to an unknown place and finding yourself sans an essential tool is enough to make most pack a flashlight for a trip to Paris and take a can-opener to the Bahamas. Most airlines now practice stringent baggage allowances and a lighter suitcase can save you money, and even time, if you can avoid checked baggages altogether. You really do not need that third pair of back-up glasses. Lose it.

4. Take care of your health: You do not want to contract flu and cold right before your holiday and spend the duration of your trip sneezing in pictures and being able to taste the foreign cuisine. Get a flu shot before your trip and use hand sanitizer as often as possible to avoid germs. Long time on aircrafts can lead to Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), clotting blood in your legs. Stretch and walk around for a few minutes every hour to avoid this.

Despite all the foresight, there will sometimes be a lost bag or two, a cold may sneak up on you as your plane takes off; some of us will still take that can-opener, just in case, and some of us will rush through the gates just as they are about to close. The important thing is to keep a positive outlook at times like this. Take a deep breath and troupe through the airport drama and keep your eye on the prize – the getaway you’ve been daydreaming about for months. For more winter travel tips, click here.

Watch the video below, too, for tips from Orbitz!

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Have a happy holiday wherever your travels may take you!

from Ivana De Domenico Research http://ift.tt/1CcIoGQ

Thanksgiving and the Body

With Thanksgiving knocking on the door, America is gearing up for an evening of overindulgence in the form of high-calorie mouthwatering Thanksgiving Dinner. It is safe to assume that even the most health-conscious of people are likely to intake richer food than they normally. The question that plagues everyone near the end of the meal when their clothes feel strained at the seams: what does this one evening of gluttony do to the body?

The American Chemical Society released a comprehensive video explaining the stomach’s reaction to the debauchery of Thanksgiving Dinner. The video explains that the stomach is pretty flexible and stretches over a liter in volume, if necessary. When swallowing food, we swallow air too, filling up the stomach and intestines with gas along with food. Carbonated beverages tend to fill the stomach with a lot of gas, taking up room and making you feel fuller.

The gas squeezes your internal organs and it is therefore, not surprising that with each new helping of the rich creamy food, you start to feel increasingly ill-at-ease. The idea of stomach bursting due to overeating, however, is unlikely because when its near the point of reaching its limit, the brain works on overdrive to do everything it can to slow you down. The queasy feeling after a session of overeating is a hormonal reaction to prevent you from eating again till the existing food is digested. These hormones are less influential when you eat fast, so slowing down between courses is a good idea.

The heartburn experienced during a heavy meal is because the stomach has to produce more hydrochloric acid that usual to break down the unusually high amount of food intake and this acid irritates the lining of the esophagus and the stomach. Antacids contain bases which neutralizes this stomach acid, but also releases carbon dioxide. Antacids will help with the heartburn, but in turn make you feel more full.

One of the most widespread Thanksgiving myth is that the turkey makes you sleepy. Before blaming the poor bird, it is important to understand that the drowsiness after a Thanksgiving meal is not just the turkey’s fault. Turkey does contain an amino acid called tryptophan which produces serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates sleep, but a lot of food contains tryptophan (e.g. cheddar cheese).

The real reason behind the drowsiness is actually the act of overeating. A lot of carb intake results in higher insulin release to keep blood sugar level in check. This results in an uptake of most amino acids from the blood to the muscles, all except tryptophan. All amino acids leave the bloodstream, while the remaining tryptophan goes to the brain to produce sleep-inducing serotonin. If there had been no insulin surge triggered by overeating, the tryptophan would have to compete with the other kinds of amino acids to make its way to the brain through a common transport route. Therefore, the bird is not to be blamed but rather the other dishes you eat alongside it. Diving straight to dessert and adding more sugar into the bloodstream is not a good idea, if you wish to avoid drowsiness.

To summarize, eat slowly, pause between courses and please heed the signals your brain is giving you to enjoy a fulfilling, but not too filling, Thanksgiving dinner.

from Ivana De Domenico | World Traveler http://ift.tt/1zrJqsO