I get super inflamed and gassy from flights; any tips to prevent this

Travel Hack
1

No matter if it’s an hour flight or a long one, I always experience inflammation and gas. This lasts for days after I fly. What helpful suggestions or hacks do you have to prevent this?

I’ve tried gas-x and 600mg ibuprofen. I get massages and soak in the tub when I land, but it still takes time to feel normal again.

I’m taking an ice mask for my upcoming trip next week to see if that helps.

I really want to look good on this trip and avoid feeling bloated and puffy from the flight. Any advice would be appreciated!

I’d prefer to hear from people who have actually tried the tips they offer rather than just things that might work.

2

Avoid caffeine, carbonated drinks, dried fruit, apples, beans, sugarless gum, and anything with sorbitol or fake sugar.

Stick to bottled water, not the airplane water. Just water, nothing else, and a lot of it.

Avoid salty snacks, cheese, or anything with sodium for 24 hours before and during the flight.

3

@Cameron
THIS is the only way to go!
It’s best to start these practices a bit before the flight.

4

Nico said:
@Cameron
THIS is the only way to go!
It’s best to start these practices a bit before the flight.

I mentioned starting 12-24 hours before flying.

5

@Cameron
And absolutely no alcohol. That makes things so much worse, especially on red-eye flights.

6

@Cameron
I came here to say avoid carbonated drinks and sorbitol. Looks like you covered that and more!

7

@Cameron
And skip the Brussels sprouts at the lounge. Avoid beer for 24 hours before flying.

8

Payton said:
@Cameron
And skip the Brussels sprouts at the lounge. Avoid beer for 24 hours before flying.

Not the Brussels sprouts and not the beer! I always forget people actually drink a lot of beer.

9

@Cameron
Can you suggest what foods you can eat?

10

@Cameron
Add cauliflower and broccoli to your avoid list too.

11

Sam said:
@Cameron
Add cauliflower and broccoli to your avoid list too.

You’re crossing a line with that suggestion. What’s left when you cut out cauliflower and broccoli?

12

@Cameron
No apples? I thought they were safe!

13

Tennyson said:
@Cameron
No apples? I thought they were safe!

I love apples, but my gastroenterologist told me they aren’t good on the FODMAP diet.

14

@Cameron
Airplane water served to passengers is actually bottled water.

15

@Cameron
[deleted]

16

Zyler said:
@Cameron
[deleted]

Not sure about other airlines, but American serves water from Dasani bottles.

17

Zyler said:
@Cameron
[deleted]

Airplane water is brought in containers.

Many times, coffee and tea are made from tap water, which may not always be clean. A study showed that some airplanes have unsafe water.

18

@Cameron
Planes don’t have ice makers. Bags of ice are provided by catering.

19

My method is to just let it out.

20

Chen said:
My method is to just let it out.

If you trust that it’s not smelly but just noisy, the cushioned seat and the airplane noise cover most of the sound.