5 things to avoid when flying

Foods people should avoid when flying include:

Ale

Alcohol is the first thing to avoid when flying. Sitting in a passenger seat for hours at a time can increase the risk of blood clots. This risk is even higher when you are dehydrated. The dry air in the cabin makes it easier for the body to become dehydrated. Alcohol is a diuretic, causing the body to lose more water, thereby increasing the risk of blood clots, according to the health website Medical News Today (UK).

Dried fruit

For healthy people, eating dried fruit on a plane is completely fine. However, for people with asthma, it is different. A study published in the journal Gastroenterology and Hepatology from Bed to Bench found that dried fruit often contains sulfites, which can trigger asthma attacks. This condition, combined with the dry air and low oxygen levels on planes, can make asthma worse.

Onions and garlic

Onions and garlic are favorite vegetables of many people. However, one problem is that both of these vegetables contain allyl methyl disulfide. This compound is the agent that causes bad breath in people who eat it. To get rid of bad breath caused by onions and garlic, people can eat apples or chew mint leaves.

Beans

Beans are a very nutritious plant with a high protein, fiber content, vitamins and many other minerals. However, eating beans right before or during a flight is not a good choice, especially if you eat a lot of them.

On the ground, eating a lot of beans can cause bloating. This is due to the high fiber content of beans. However, at high altitudes, the amount of gas in the intestines can expand by 25%, making the feeling of bloating worse.

Carbonated drinks

As you climb, the oxygen levels in the cabin drop. A study in the European Respiratory Journal found that 18% of people with lung disease experience mild shortness of breath during a flight.

Additionally, the expansion of air at high altitudes increases pressure on the lungs, so the American Aerospace Medical Association recommends avoiding carbonated drinks as they can increase gas formation and affect breathing, according to Medical News Today.