Heather Poole

Jet lag, melatonin & cherries (plus a chance to win a “red hot” traveler’s kit!)

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Heather Poole

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Flight attendants, pilots, and frequent fliers often suffer from jet lag.  I know I do.  What you probably already know is jet lag can be cured by taking melatonin.  What you may not know is tart cherries contain a significant amount of melatonin.   That’s right, those little red balls of deliciousness don’t just taste good, they can actually help you get a good night’s sleep naturally!  And that’s not all.  Cherries have also been credited with soothing arthritis, slowing the aging process, and helping depression.  They even contain queritrin, a potent anticancer agent.

WAIT!  Before you run off to buy this miracle fruit, leave a comment below and you’ll be entered to win a “red hot” traveler’s kit!  On Monday, July 19, 2010, I’ll announce the lucky winner.  

The traveler’s kit includes… 

1.  Dried cherries
2.  A Kashmere red pillow case-socks-shawl travel set
3.  A Tory Burch Cosmetic Case
4.  Cherry Marketing Institute tote bag

According to the Cherry Marketing Institute:  Cherries, a super fruit known for their powerful antioxidant and phytonutrient profile, are one of the few known, researched food sources of melatonin, a potent antioxidant produced naturally by the body to help regulate biorhythm and natural sleep patterns.

Recent  research conducted by Russel J. Reiter, Ph.D, a nutrition researcher at the University of Texas Health Science Center and one of the world’s leading authorities on melatonin,  found that a handful of cherries contain more melatonin than what is normally found in the blood, helping your body get in sync with the new time zone while you travel.  And cherries are believed to be one of the most concentrated sources of melatonin – bananas, corn and oats supply  melatonin but in considerably smaller amounts.
  
Research suggests melatonin works best when consumed one  hour prior to your desired sleep time on the plane and for three or more consecutive evenings after your arrival, depending on the number of time zones crossed. Cherries are available year-round as dried and frozen cherries, and cherry juice, so they’re easy to incorporate into your daily diet and travel agenda. Specifically, dried cherries are a convenient , portable and tasty way to get a melatonin boost on the plane. 

UPDATE:  Congratulations Alicia Collins, you’re the winner!

80 responses to “Jet lag, melatonin & cherries (plus a chance to win a “red hot” traveler’s kit!)”

  1. Liz Avatar
    Liz

    Hey, whaddaya know? I love cherries and didn’t know that about melatonin.

    And thanks, now I have a craving for some Michigan cherries!

    Reply
    1. Liz Avatar
      Liz

      My name is Liz, too,and I’ll be visiting Michigan later this month…to attend a wedding. As for cherries, I LOVE them…always have!

      Reply
  2. Alyssa Avatar
    Alyssa

    Awesome idea and great information! Going on my honeymoon soon and definitely don’t want jet lag for it 🙂 Love your blog too! I don’t travel that much, but this blog helps me daydream about it.

    Reply
  3. Noodles and Waffles Avatar
    Noodles and Waffles

    I’m headed to Peru/Galapagos this fall so this giveaway would be fabulous to win. I also have arthritis so it would be a double win. Please keep sharing the travel tips…I love them.

    Reply
  4. shani Avatar
    shani

    love your travel tips always handy to advise my clients!!!

    Reply
  5. LeftoverSammich Avatar
    LeftoverSammich

    Mmmm, cherries…

    Reply
  6. rachel w Avatar
    rachel w

    As a retro cherry anything loving vixen, I’d love this red hot giftie. Danke Heather for the opportunity!

    Reply
  7. bikinipolitics Avatar
    bikinipolitics

    I didn’t know cherries could do that!

    Reply
  8. Steve Avatar
    Steve

    i do love the cherries. and hate the jetlag.

    Reply
  9. barichte Avatar
    barichte

    Thank you for the valuable information!

    Reply
  10. Jumblerant Avatar
    Jumblerant

    Thansk for thegreat blog – I did not know about tart cherries – I’ll pack some on my next trip.

    And now I have a craving for cherries!!

    Reply
  11. Margaret Avatar
    Margaret

    love all that red!

    Reply
  12. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    Me, me me! Email me if I win – I’m on vacation next week. Love your blog, as always!

    Reply
  13. Megan Avatar
    Megan

    Great tip! totally did Not know that about cherries. So excited to add them to my food bag. I sleep horribly on the road so I will be trying this! 🙂
    Thanks.

    Reply
  14. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    What a great idea to take dried cherries when I travel. I did not know cherries had melatonin- cool fact! I will have to try that on my vacation mid August.

    Reply
  15. Christopher Bailey Avatar
    Christopher Bailey

    I knew it. I told Lory K, all the time on the plane as she was shoving blueberries down my throat to help my memory! I just had a bowl od cherries last night. What a great article, thank you!

    Reply
  16. Elizabeth Avatar
    Elizabeth

    I love cherries! And sleeping well. 🙂

    Reply
  17. Mary Jo Avatar
    Mary Jo

    I’m fortunate that I don’t have a big problem with jet lag, but who knew that it might be related to my love of eating cherries.

    Reply
  18. Sachin Virdi Avatar
    Sachin Virdi

    Scotch works too….tried it? 😉

    Reply
  19. Jeannie Avatar
    Jeannie

    Thanks Heather, all of these items would come in handy. I will have to pick up some melatonin and dried cherries at Trader Joes.

    Reply
  20. Julia W. Avatar
    Julia W.

    Nice giveaway! I had no idea about the benefits of cherries. This frequent flyer is glad to hear it!

    Reply
  21. redhairedash Avatar
    redhairedash

    omg!! i love cherries! we eat them because they are so good for you but i didn’t know about the melatonin content. i also didn’t know you could get dried ones ~ we suffered all winter with out them when we could have had them all along! thanks for sharing ~ love your blog 🙂

    Reply
  22. Elaine Avatar
    Elaine

    Count me in! I love cherries, but eat them because they taste good. Who knew all the health benefits!

    Reply
  23. Nvusofboots Avatar
    Nvusofboots

    I need some cherries

    Reply
  24. Kate Avatar
    Kate

    Mm, cherries (:

    Reply
  25. spider Avatar
    spider

    i looove dried cherries! now i have a good reason to eat more.

    Reply
  26. Kristi Avatar
    Kristi

    How cool! Cherries are good for gout, too, which my husband has… so if I win I will share with him!

    Reply
  27. teeyah Avatar
    teeyah

    I always eat cherries but never after a flight! 🙂 Now I will do that after every flight. Thanks to this extremely useful info 🙂

    Reply
  28. Ron Avatar
    Ron

    That’s good to know. What kind of cherries? Bing?

    Reply
  29. Blondie Avatar
    Blondie

    My fave jet lag cure is a glass of wine and a Benedryl. Wait…that’s probably bad advice….)

    Reply
  30. Traci Avatar
    Traci

    Thanks for the info, I’m going to eat cherries more often!

    Reply
  31. Gabriela Avatar
    Gabriela

    I love cherries!

    Reply
  32. Kier Matthews Avatar
    Kier Matthews

    Just what I needed to know as I head to Paris on Monday! Thanks!

    Reply
  33. Cowin Myundies Avatar
    Cowin Myundies

    Tart cherries have also been credited with providing relief for gout. If traveling east, my cure for jet lag is to stay up as late as you can. The first couple days might feel odd but it’s the way to go.

    Reply
  34. Lisa Avatar
    Lisa

    I had never heard this before. Good to know a natural sleep remedy. Thanks! ….one more reason to enjoy a frou frou drink/nightcap. Double the sleep inducing power.

    Reply
  35. Theycallmearex Avatar
    Theycallmearex

    Hah! Although I’m not terribly excited about the side-effects of melatonin (grogginess), I will try out tart cherries as a more natural way to overcome jet lag. I’ll be needing a massive amt of this come next week when I go in and out from SFO to PVG. 🙂

    Reply
  36. Douglas Drake Avatar
    Douglas Drake

    Wow, I often take melatonin when traveling….now I can have a piece of cherry pie !

    Reply
  37. sfoswjen Avatar
    sfoswjen

    I have a big cherry tree in my front yard that I usually get 50-80 pounds of cherries from every July. But this year with the funky weather we’ve had I have only gotten 5. Not 5 pounds mind you, 5 actual cherries! Agh! I’ve also been waking up in the middle of the night several nights a week for the last few weeks, hmm, I think it may be time for me to go buy cherries.

    Reply
  38. Leonie Avatar
    Leonie

    Perfect timing! I really wasn’t looking forward to my long haul in two weeks but now I know this I’ll be taking some cherries in my hand luggage for sure!

    Reply
  39. Unexpected Traveller Avatar
    Unexpected Traveller

    Unfortunately I tend to travel on business a lot so I cannot always take my cherie with me … oh, wait, now I get it 🙂

    Reply
  40. Pete Holt Avatar
    Pete Holt

    She smiled
    her elmond eyes
    turned at the edge.
    A warm glow, came from her.
    She over wellemd me
    with
    can i help you sir.

    Reply
  41. Ingrid. Avatar
    Ingrid.

    Hmm. Cherries.
    Now you’ve made me hungry.
    🙂
    Thanks for sharing.
    x

    Reply
  42. Lisa Avatar
    Lisa

    Well isn’t that something good to know?! I’m traveling quite a bit this fall so I’ll definitely make sure to put a bag of dried cherries in my carry-on.

    Thanks for the tip!

    Reply
  43. Diane Avatar
    Diane

    Great blog! Great info! Keep writing!

    And I want to win!

    Reply
  44. Rclarke Avatar
    Rclarke

    I have found melatonin to be very effective taken as a supplement. To learn it can be taken in a more natural and pleasant form is great news!

    Reply
  45. David Avatar
    David

    Is it wrong to say that if I try cherries for the first time for jetlag it will pop my cherry for the cherry jetlag remedy? Sorry I am a Merchant Sailor and I am flying from Indonesia to the east coast this week.

    Reply
  46. Rafael Marquez Avatar
    Rafael Marquez

    @David, that’s funny.

    Reply
  47. John Avatar
    John

    Looking forward to trying cherries the next time I fly back from the west coast; thank you for both the info and the contest!

    Reply
  48. Jeff L Avatar
    Jeff L

    I have a bowl of dried tart cherries on my desk right now (ok, they are chocolate covered) 🙂

    Reply
  49. aliciacollins Avatar
    aliciacollins

    I praise you for being a flight attendant. I fly all the time because I love to travel, but I AM TERRIFIED of flying!!

    I do not get jetlag usually, but I am that person on the plane who is awake the entire time shaking!!

    Reply
    1. Heather Poole Avatar
      Heather Poole

      CONGRATULAIONS, you’re the winner!

      Reply
  50. Everywhereist Avatar
    Everywhereist

    I read about this a while ago – that cherries have high quantities of melatonin. And while I haven’t really noticed a difference in my jet lag, I figure at the very least, I’m eating more fruit and getting some vitamins. 🙂

    Reply
  51. Sharon Avatar
    Sharon

    I’m curious how cherries compare to taking Melatonin in pill form. Does it work just as well? How many do you have to eat? I did almost all long haul internationals (transpacifics and atlantics) for 13 years, plus fly between Europe and California about twice a year.

    I do NOT recommend taking Melatonin in pill form on the plane. The only side effect I’ve ever heard of is more vivid dreams. I noticed that too. Ask anyone who has battled jet lag which they prefer and hands down, we’ll take sleep with nightmares over not sleeping… But let’s say you *don’t* want to be the inflight entertainment!

    Perhaps enjoy the cherries at the destination?

    Reply
  52. Penny Clarke Avatar
    Penny Clarke

    Sounds like a sweet way to rest while traveling to me!

    Reply
  53. Thannia Avatar
    Thannia

    Great info. Im also a FA!! I really hope I win! =)

    Reply
  54. Debbie Lee Avatar
    Debbie Lee

    What a beautiful trip kit… and I LOVE sour cherries, so I guess I’ll be stocking up on those to battle my chronic jetlag. Thanks for the tip & thanks for the chance to win such a beautiful gift! 🙂

    Reply
  55. Rhea Avatar
    Rhea

    Love this blog and following you on Twitter.

    Reply
  56. Torie Avatar
    Torie

    I would never have guessed that cherries could help with jet lag! Love the blog. 🙂

    Reply
  57. Dan K Avatar
    Dan K

    Wow! Thanks great info…time to buy a bag…

    Reply
  58. Virginia Avatar
    Virginia

    Sweet! Maybe a little tart, but the results sound sweet! I am going to try it my next flight,

    Reply
  59. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    I take melatonin nightly, but never knew it was in cherries!

    Reply
  60. prettylucky Avatar
    prettylucky

    cherries! wow. i never would’ve thought.

    i’ve always wondered how flight attendants managed with their sleeping habits.

    Reply
  61. Kari Avatar
    Kari

    I’d love to try them, good idea! It gets rough going through so many time zones all the time.

    Reply
  62. kathe Avatar
    kathe

    Cherries are also very good for gout and pseudogout, helping to rid the body of uric acid crystals in the blood. Its also good when you eat too many hot dogs or bacon and get too much nitrates and nitrites in your system. Enjoy!!

    Reply
  63. kayla Avatar
    kayla

    No more jet lag when I fly all the way across the US to come home from college!

    Reply
  64. Liz Avatar
    Liz

    A different Liz commenting here! What a great blog and giveaway.

    Reply
  65. thesandiegogolfer Avatar
    thesandiegogolfer

    love the cherries tip. about to go on a long flight so i’m off to buy some!

    Reply
  66. Mare Avatar
    Mare

    needed a jet lag remedy…never knew eating cherries were a natual way to get melatonin, thanks for the info! Will try it on my trip in July.

    Reply
  67. Meghan Avatar
    Meghan

    I cannot wait to try this after flying a redeye turn back to Toronto!

    Reply
  68. tami Avatar
    tami

    This is an excellent suggestion. I always stop at Trader Joe’s before arriving at the airport to stock up on easily transportable nuts and dried fruit as healthy snacks for the flight. I will definitely add dried cherries to my shopping list.

    Reply
  69. Kim Hoa Granville Avatar
    Kim Hoa Granville

    Thanks for the info and what a fun travelling kit give away idea.

    I already have frozen sour cherries in the freezer for future clafoutis. Guess where they are going this August? To Paris with moi! I’ll buy organic dried cherries to munch and use the frozen ones to depuff my eye bags in flight before I go to sleep.

    Reply
  70. A recipe for jet lag – cherry coco smoothie « Another Flight Attendant Writing Avatar
    A recipe for jet lag – cherry coco smoothie « Another Flight Attendant Writing

    […] There’s still time to CLICK, comment & win a ”red hot” traveler’s kit!)   Earlier this week I wrote […]

    Reply
  71. Patrick Avatar
    Patrick

    Most of the body’s melatonin is created in the small intestine as an endogenous protectant against oxidative damage, so gut health is primary.

    Tart cherries have the additional benefit of containing additional antioxidants that can help support the mucosal barrier in the small intestine.

    Thanks for the wonderful blog Heather!

    Reply
  72. Amy Tracy Avatar
    Amy Tracy

    I love cherries. I love winning. And I love you! (Well, I love your writing …)

    Reply
  73. chouki Avatar
    chouki

    MMM I love cherries ! Good to know about it…’cause I want to be a flight attendant !! For now I just often travel between France and England and I like it !
    Other dream? Want to visit USA and Canada !

    Reply
  74. The Robertsons of Mumbai Avatar
    The Robertsons of Mumbai

    I had no idea that cherries might be helpful for jet lag. I am going to have to try them next time I travel! Thanks for the info!

    Reply
  75. Claire Avatar
    Claire

    I have had a craving for cherries since I was a teenager. Now that I have read this article, I think my body has been telling me I need melatonin!

    Reply
  76. Jovan Avatar
    Jovan

    Excellent tip – especially for the flights going East, I always find those harder to recover from.

    Reply
  77. Jessica Avatar
    Jessica

    I love cherries and would LOVE to win this giveaway!!

    Came to visit through girl on raw!! 🙂

    Reply
  78. 7 Benefits of Twitter for Non-Believers « Avatar
    7 Benefits of Twitter for Non-Believers «

    […] and came across a blog post by a flight attendant @heather_poole. It was an interesting post about how dried cherries can help jetlag. Heather and @choosecherries were running a contest where if you commented on the post you would be […]

    Reply

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