Is this the key to beating jet lag? England Lionesses wear special glasses on flight to Australia
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England’s lionesses have been photographed wearing special glasses that may be the key to beating jet lag.
The European champions embarked on a long-distance trip to Australia on Wednesday – just days before the highly anticipated Women’s World Cup in Sydney.
Keira Walsh, Ellie Roebuck and Georgia Stanway were seen showing off the sunglasses to avoid sleeping exhausted.
In a tweet, the Lionnesses wrote: “Time for the chrono goggles. Trying our best to beat the jet lag.’
The £255 ($325) glasses are made by Netherlands-based Propeaq, who claim they can keep the mind and body alert at the right time.
England’s lionesses were photographed wearing special sunglasses as they embarked on a trip to Australia. Pictured: players Keira Walsh, Ellie Roebuck and Georgia Stanway
The £255 ($325) glasses are made by Netherlands-based Propeaq, who claim they can keep the mind and body alert at the right time
‘Fatigue, drowsiness and inattention reduce performance during a business trip or spoil the fun on vacation,” Propeaq explains on his website.
‘Prepare your body for the other time zone by adjusting the biological clock to the right time.
‘This prevents both the unpleasant feeling of lead in the shoes and the frightening bags under the eyes.’
Jet lag – also known as circadian desynchrony – is a temporary state of sleep caused by a mismatch between the body clock and the external environment.
It usually occurs as a result of rapid air travel across multiple continents and time zones.
Propeaq’s goggles are intended to mitigate the effects of jet lag through the use of interchangeable lenses with blue and red filters.
Dr. Neil Stanley, an independent sleep expert, claims that while this concept is far from new, it is based on scientific beliefs.
He told MailOnline: ‘Blue light tells us it’s daytime – the sky is blue.
In a tweet, the Lionnesses wrote: “Time for the chrono goggles. Trying our best to beat the jet lag’. In the photo: Georgia Stanway
Pictured: Bethany England of the Lionesses snaps a photo of her fellow footballers
These goggles are made by Netherlands-based Propeaq and are priced at €299, which equates to £255 / $325.39
“What tells us it’s time to sleep is the absence of blue light – think of any sunset – they are usually red or pink. The absence of blue tells us to go to sleep.’
Propeaq adds that the ‘active’ blue light inhibits the production of melatonin, also known as the night hormone.
Instead, it promotes the production of cortisol – the hormone known for stimulating action – which simulates the idea that it is daytime.
To use the glasses correctly, Propeaq advises wearers to use them together with the app.
Flight times and time zone information can be entered here so that Propeaq can best inform users when to change the lens colour.
“Your biological clock is tuned to sunrise and sunset,” Propeaq explains.
‘The clock can be moved, but that can be done for a maximum of 1.5 hours a day without being bothered by it.
“So if you shift six time zones by traveling, you need four days of adjustment. This can be done in the four days before the flight, but also, for example, two days before departure and two days after arrival.’
Despite these claims, filtered glasses and their effectiveness have long been a source of contention among sleep experts.
Dr. Stanley labeled blue light goggles a “waste of time” unless someone wore them under tightly controlled conditions.
Georgia Stanway imagined arriving in Australia after taking off the special glasses
He told MailOnline, “It’s not surprising that athletes are adopting this sort of thing. It’s all about performance and optimizing performance.
“But once you see the sun, it will totally negate what these will do.
“Sunlight is a million times more powerful than anything these glasses can do.
“Unless they wear the glasses all the time, it’s a waste of time.”
Dr. Stanley claims that any effect of these glasses will eventually reset the moment they are removed.
Even indoor lighting, getting into the shower or using a lighted mirror can be enough to act as a time signal.
To really tackle jet lag, Dr. Stanley suggests that travelers simply stay awake when it’s light and sleep when it’s dark in the destination country.
He also advised that eating at the new “right” times will keep you alert — even if it’s just a Mars bar and not a full meal.
Sending the lionesses to Australia two weeks before the competition would also have been a big help, says Dr Stanley.
After the long-haul flight to Australia, Georgia Stanway was one of many other players who didn’t wear glasses at all.
MailOnline has approached Propeaq and the football association for comment.
TIPS TO PREVENT AND TREAT JET LAG
Sleep specialist Dr Yu Sun Bin from the University of Sydney says long-distance travelers can reduce their alcohol consumption to avoid severe jet lag (stock image)
GO FOR A WALK
Taking a walk in the sun is better than taking a nap at fighting jet lag, according to a 2019 airline study.
Fatigue specialists from Qantas and the University of Sydney at the Charles Perkins Center have released their findings on how passengers cope with long, overseas flights.
Specialized Sleep Research Dr. Yu Sun Bin, from the university team, said less than half of Qantas passengers surveyed took a walk outside after arriving at their destination.
“We know that going outside for sunlight at the destination is one of the most important strategies for synchronizing the body clock, but only 47 percent of passengers have made the effort to do it,” she said.
Sleep experts recommend walking outside after a long flight to allow a traveler to get used to a new time zone.
AVOID DRINK
Dr. Sun Bin also advised passengers to consume less beer and wine on a long flight.
“Drinking more than a few glasses of alcohol will make jet lag worse,” she said.
“It may make us fall asleep faster, but above a certain point it also disrupts sleep quality and causes dehydration.”
The NHS says: ‘Don’t drink too much caffeine or alcohol – they can make jet lag worse.’
EAT SUPERFOODS
Lemons have properties that help fight dehydration, bananas are rich in potassium and magnesium, which act as natural muscle relaxants, and cherries are a natural food source of melatonin, a hormone that helps reset the body’s clock.
Goji berries can improve sleep quality and fresh ginger is another source of melatonin, according to luxury hotel chain Swissotel.
If jet lag has affected your digestive issues, munching on a super grain, quinoa, may provide some relief.
…BUT DOES MELATONIN WORK?
Melatonin is a natural hormone released by the body at night to tell your brain it’s time to sleep – and it comes in tablet form as a method of reducing jet lag.
According to the Mayo Clinic, melatonin helps you sleep at times when you wouldn’t normally rest, making it beneficial for those with jet lag.
“As a jet lag remedy and sleep aid, melatonin has been extensively studied and is now a widely accepted component of effective jet lag treatment,” says Mayo Clinic.
“Your body treats melatonin as a signal for darkness, so melatonin generally has the opposite effect of bright light.”
However, the NHS says melatonin tablets are not recommended for jet lag because there is not enough evidence to show they work.
NHS tips for avoiding jet lag include drinking plenty of water, staying active by stretching and walking around the cabin regularly, and trying to sleep if it’s nighttime at your destination.
When you arrive at your location, the NHS also advises changing your sleep schedule to the new time zone as soon as possible, setting an alarm to avoid oversleeping in the morning and going outside during the day to enjoy the natural light to enjoy.