Flight anxiety, or fear of taking a flight, is something which many people have encountered. While some flyers face this problem moderately, the issue can get so acute in some others that they can even skip flying. Experts give many tips to assist people in overcoming flight anxiety, like exercising before flying, avoiding alcohol, etc. Also, there are some ‘superfoods’ that can be highly effective in beating this phobia. Here’s is a list of 10 snacks that one can take before boarding a flight or inside the plane to get rid of flight anxiety.
1. Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate has flavonols, which are antioxidants that help to reduce stress and improve brain function. Thus munching them before or within a flight can make you feel good. Dark chocolates bring down the level of cortisol, the stress-causing hormone.
2. Mango Pudding
Mango is a superfruit for battling restlessness and depression and it also boosts immunity. And a mango pudding will help you kick out your flying fears in a drool-worthy way. Also, mango contains Vitamin C which can improve the body immunity and help in fighting against infections.
3. Egg Poaches And Omelettes
Eggs are rich in an amino acid called tryptophan. Tryptophan assists in the creation of the chemical neurotransmitter, serotonin. This neurotransmitter can enhance brain function, uplift mood and reduce anxiety. Also, eggs are a good source of Vitamin D and protein.
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4. Avocado
Avocado contains Vitamin B, which aids in fighting stress. The B vitamins, namely niacin, riboflavin and thiamine have positive impacts on the human nervous system. Vitamin B6 assists in the development of neurotransmitters like serotonin that reduce anxiety.
5. Ginger Cookies
Experts say that chewing ginger can help in fighting motion sickness and anxiety. Ginger is also known to heal nausea, a prominent symptom of flight anxiety. Thus, delicious ginger cookies infused with cinnamon can uplift your mood while flying.
6. Walnuts
Walnuts are loaded with magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids which have positive impacts on mood hormones, serotonin and dopamine. Magnesium also reduces the level of cortisol, the hormone that creates stress. Thus, walnuts are great natural picks to fight anxiety and depression.
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7. Whole Wheat Waffles
The batter for the wheat waffle is made of wheat, butter, milk, eggs, yeast and brown sugar. Eggs, milk and butter are individually good anti-depressants. Waffle is a ‘feel-good’ snack that we can grab in a flight to deviate our attention to its delectable taste from our unwanted fears. However, having an excessive quantity of sweets can increase feelings of anxiousness. So, one should remember to have the delight in limited quantity. It’s good to avoid flour waffles as studies suggest that flour can be bad for anxiety.
8. Pretzels
Munching crunchy foods is an exercise of the brain to get rid of stresses. And pretzels can help in getting that crunch and eliminate flight jitters. Also, both soft and hard pretzels are usually made of wheat and are rich in fiber. They are thus good for the digestive system and gut health.
9. Almonds
The zinc content in almonds helps in balancing the mood. On top of that, almonds are also crunchy. Also, almonds are rich in magnesium and Vitamin E which are amazing mood regulators and help to curb anxiety issues.
10. Seafood
Seafood options like salmon and sardines have omega-3 fatty acids. As mentioned earlier, omega-3 can boost the creation of mood-lifting hormones, dopamine and serotonin. Thus having one of these at the airport or as part of your in-flight meal will be beneficial in curing anxieties.
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So, if you’re someone who suffers from a flying phobia, gobble up some of these snacks on your next flight in order to feel better. Along with that, you can carry an interesting book or download a good movie to keep yourself occupied.