BEFORE a flight it can be easy to gorge on unhealthy food at the airport with a range of restaurant choices.
However, what you decide to eat could result in a much more uncomfortable plane journey.
Skyscanner have revealed some of the foods to avoid before boarding a flight to prevent bloating and stomach pain.
We’ll kick off with a golden rule, which is to avoid eating anything that’s going to make you feel bloated, especially on a long-haul flight.
So the next time you’re tempted by those flashy fast food restaurants at the airport, think about how hard it is for your body to process saturated fat.
Alternative: Plan ahead, and pack a cold-cut chicken sandwich or a wrap.
Cruciferious is a group of vegetables that includes cauliflower, pak choi, brussels sprouts and kale, to name a few.
These super veggies are loaded with carbohydrates and vitamins, so they’re great for diets and clean eating, but they can make you feel bloated and cause discomfort during flights.
In rare cases they’ve even been known to cause seizures due to the pressurised environments like planes.
Alternative: Munch on sliced capsicum, carrot, cucumber and snow peas.
Yes, the in-flight bottles of booze are small, but if you rinse ten of them you’re obviously going to feel awful before you land.
Alcohol is dehydrating, and because planes have a dehydrating impact on the human body, you’re going to deprive yourself of much-needed fluids if you stick to wine or beer.
Alternative: You guessed it — water. You have to keep that fluid intake up.
The thought of surviving a flight without a hit of caffeine may sound like torture, but sadly, gulping too much of the stuff before or during a flight can both make you feel dehydrated and need the bathroom more often.
It can also mess up your sleep cycle, which can make you feel terrible after long flight.
Alternative: Herbal tea. Try peppermint to help digestion and ginger to alleviate motion sickness.
If beans make you gassy on a flight, just imagine what a few bottles of fizzy drink are going to do to your precious innards.
The caffeine and sugar are also going to do a merry jig all over your sleeping patterns, so you might find it hard to get the sleep you need during long haul flights.
Alternative: Fruits are a great source of vitamin C to boost your immune system and keep you hydrated. Or if you need a hit of bubbles, go for a carbonated water instead – it’s the lesser of two evils.
Too much salt can leave you feeling really thirsty while spice can affect your gut.
During a long flight this can have the knock on effects of water retention and a swollen stomach.
Alternative: Opt for protein-rich meals to keep you full for longer.
Or simply DIY your own (unsalted) trail mix.
Some airport lounges have unlimited food and drink from just £25, Sun Online Travel previously reported, for those who want all the choice when it comes to their pre-flight meal.
However some have felt the food offerings were “basic” and less luxurious as suggested.
A man went viral after sharing his £5.70 airport breakfast, which was two sad looking pieces of toast and three watery eggs in a box.
