With schools breaking for summer holidays and families set for long haul flights to exciting destinations, travellers are reminded to stay hydrated on the flight in order to beat the jet lag and stay fresh and active.

“Make sure that while on the flight, you stay well hydrated. Dehydration becomes a common and sometimes serious issue while travelling by air. You are suggested to have a few sips of liquid, and if possible, it is good to carry electrolytes,” said Arsalan Karim, director, Research and Development, Clinova, a UK-based consumer healthcare company focused on developing, manufacturing and marketing healthcare products and medical devices.

Long haul flights can be like a drain, sucking all the moisture out of the skin and leaving one feeling tired and dry. This is the last thing anyone wants to experience, particularly when they arrive at their destination.

Research suggests that the air-conditioned cabins on all planes cools down a room or area by decreasing humidity. The air inside of a plane’s cabin is much drier than a typical home or office room on the ground. In those non-air-conditioned rooms, humidity levels are usually at a comfortable 30 – 65 per cent. But, the levels inside of a plane’s cabin are often 10 per cent. As such when passengers are sitting in a plane for hours, they have no choice but to breathe in the dry air around them. After a short period, they will soon start to feel dehydrated. Luckily, it’s easy enough to avoid suffering from that problem.

Clinova experts share simple long flight tips that travellers can follow the next time they fly.

a. Consume electrolytes before leaving home
Before leaving home, consume O.R.S Hydration Tablets, which are high in electrolytes. Passengers can also drink these once they land to re-hydrate. O.R.S Hydration Tablets help replenish the salts quickly.

b. Drink water in advance
Drink as much water in the days leading up to the trip as possible. While most airport securities don’t permit travellers to carry water, it’s easier to bring a refillable one and fill it once they get to their gate. Many gates are now equipped with stations to fill your own bottle in order to save the plastic from going to landfills.

c. Carry alternative foods / drinks
While water is the best solution to dehydration, it is important to carry foods that will not only hydrate, but help sustain the fluids in the body. Potassium-rich foods and drinks like bananas and coconut water can help travellers overcome long flights without reaching for the water bottle every few minutes.

d. Avoid caffeine and sugary drinks
Avoid sugary drinks while on a flight. These only add unnecessary calories without any benefits. Also, give up on caffeine-based beverages like coffee or tea. Too much caffeine in the system is likely to dehydrate and cause more harm.

e. Sleep and relax
While on the flight, get adequate sleep. As there is a lot of excitement for your travel; there's a risk you will just get knackered and that will lower your defences, which will also make you more prone to picking up infections.

f. Carry a moisturiser
Because of less moisture in the air, the skin tends to become more dry while on the flight. Skin moisturiser is a useful product to have when flying.

“There's no greater joy than traveling to new places, discovering new cultures, cuisines and traditions. While people travel to places for several reasons, it is important that every time you travel on a flight, you follow these easy guidelines to stay hydrated and active,” said Karim. - TradeArabia News Service