Alcohol
Dehydration can also be an issue for passengers who consume alcohol.
“Alcohol affects your body negatively when in high altitude,” said Whytney, alluding to a condition known as hypoxia, which is related to low levels of oxygen in body tissue.
“The barometric pressure in the cabin of a plane is lower than it normally is,” Dr. Clare Morrison, a medical professional with MedExpress, told HuffPost UK .
“This decreased pressure means that the body finds it harder to absorb oxygen,” she added. “This can produce light-headedness or hypoxia. In other words, the lower level of oxygen in your blood means that you may seem more drunk in the air than you would on the ground after consuming the same amount of alcohol.”
And if you’re having your drink on ice, you’ve got one more thing to think about: The ice was probably made with the same tap water that a lot of flight attendants avoid.
Entrees in General
According to a German study commissioned by the carrier Lufthansa over a decade ago, factors like low pressure can cause certain foods to taste less intense among airline passengers — which is why aviation catering companies heavily salt their food.
“Pasta and soups are usually high in sodium,” Whytney said. “Also some Indian meals fall in the category because they have no meat but a higher salt content. Any kind of sandwich with deli meat inside of it probably has higher levels of salt as well.”
Vanessa Rissetto, a registered dietitian in New Jersey and cofounder of Culina Health, previously told HuffPost that “because of pressure shifts, some people retain water during a flight, so something overly processed or too high in sodium might exacerbate” dehydration-related headaches, constipation, or fatigue.
“Try some electrolyte tabs or coconut water to help with hydrations, and try whole foods like veggies and fruit, or lean protein, to help you feel your best,” she said.
Cheese Trays
If you order a cheese tray on a plane hoping for a delicious selection, you’re likely to be disappointed. King said most of the options served in the air are processed cheeses that don’t require refrigeration.
“Stay away from cheese trays, as they aren’t too fresh,” she advised. “They are [made of] cheese, sure, but they’re basically shelf-stable products.”
In general, anything that needs refrigeration may not be very fresh when served on an airplane, King noted. She added that although she herself indulges in such foods sometimes, she doesn’t recommend it.
Of course, all foods go through an extensive regulatory process before being served on a plane. But since flight attendants are around the fare on a regular basis, their advice is worth keeping in mind.
This post originally appeared on HuffPost.
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