Take these off your pre-flight checklist to prevent jet bloat
#1 Alcohol
Though not technically food, and very tempting at the airport – this can cause you to be dehydrated and uncomfortable because alcohol’s effects are felt more when at a higher altitude.
#2 Cruciferous Vegetables
Broccoli, cauliflower, and other cruciferous vegetables can cause bloating, but when the airplane takes off, the cabin air can expand up to 30% meaning any air or gases in the stomach or small intestine also expands, which means even more bloating than on land.
#3 Carbonated Beverages
Not unlike cruciferous vegetables, bloating expands with carbonated liquids in the belly.
#4 Fried or Fast Food
Scientists have discovered that eating saturated fat might restrict blood flow, increasing your risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), not to mention that digestion is harder at 35,000 feet for your body than on the ground.
#5 Sugar-Free Gum and Candy
So this one may surprise you, but because human bodies aren’t not designed to process artificial sweeteners well, they too can cause bloating, gas, or even – terrible as it sounds – have a laxative effect, you may want to avoid them. I’m sure most of us don’t plan to spend the whole flight in the tiny airplane restroom. Read the package if you purchase sugar-free gum or candy, because many of these have a warning label outlining this.
#6 Garlic
So yummy but it sure does linger on your breath and in your body too! Garlic has sulfuric elements that absorb into your bloodstream & lungs. This means you’re literally exhaling the strong garlic smell -even after brushing your teeth – and it seeps out of your pores. Be kind and avoid garlic pre-flight.
#7 Legumes
Beans have a bad reputation for being another major gas creator. Many beans and legumes contain indigestible complex sugars that can lead to bloating on the airplane.