The Argonne Labs Anti-Jet Lag Diet [4 day regimen]

[Macrobius]

And oldy but goody -- the Argonne Jet Lag Diet... it was developed at Argonne National Labs around the time I did an internship in summer 1983... the idea is to eat foods for a few days that force you body to 'reset' its circadian rhythms, so it will latch on to any new schedule (and light cues) you present... always handy to keep in your bag o' tricks.

This is what 'The Science' used to look like -- back when we *had* Science.

Citation needed: https://netlib.org/misc/jet-lag-diet

NOTE: have not personally ever used this diet myself, but I've heard it works from people who have. The basic principles can probably be reused in other context -- certainly for shift workers.

[ FURTHER NOTE this code block can be scrolled:]

             The Argonne Anti-Jet-Lag-Diet

The Argonne Anti-Jet-Lag Diet is helping travelers quickly adjust
their bodies' internal clocks to new time zones. It is also being
used to speed the adjustment of shiftworkers, such as power
plant operators, to periodically rotating work hours. The diet was
developed by Dr. Charles F. Ehret of Argonne's Division of
Biological and Medical Research as an application of his fundamental
studies of the daily biological rhythms of animals. Argonne National
Laboratory is one of the US Department of Energy's major centers of
research in energy and the fundamental sciences.


How to avoid jet lag:

1. DETERMINE BREAKFAST TIME at destination on day of arrival.

2. FEAST-FAST-FEAST-FAST - Start four days before breakfast time
   in step 1. On day one, FEAST; eat heartily with high-protein breakfast
   and lunch and a high-carbohydrate dinner. No coffee except between
   3 and 5 p.m. On day two, FAST on light meals of salads, light soups,
   fruits and juices. Again, no coffee except between 3 and 5 p.m. On day
   three, FEAST again. On day four, FAST; if you drink caffeinated beverages,
   take them in morning when traveling west, or between 6 and 11 p.m. when
   traveling east.

3. BREAK THE FINAL FAST at destination breakfast time. No alcohol on the
   plane. If the flight is long enough, sleep until normal breakfast time
   at destination, but no later. Wake up and FEAST on a high protein
   breakfast. Stay awake and active. Continue the day's meals according to
   mealtimes at the destination.

FEAST on high protein breakfast and lunches to stimulate the body's
      active cycle. Suitable meals include steak, eggs, hamburgers,
      high-protein cereals, green beans.

FEAST on high carbohydrates suppers to stimulate sleep. They include
      spaghetti and other pastas (but no meatballs), crepes (but no
      meat filling), potatoes, other starchy vegetables, and sweet desserts.

FAST  days help deplete the liver's store of carbohydrates and prepare the
      body's clock for resetting. Suitable foods include fruit, light soups,
      broths, skimpy salads, unbuttered toast, half pieces of bread. Keep
      calories and carbohydrates to a minimum.


        1            2            3            4
      FEAST         FAST        FEAST         FAST         BREAK FINAL FAST

B  high protein  light foods  high protein  light foods  Westbound: If you drink
                                                         caffeinated beverages,
                                                         take them morning
                                                         before departure.
                                                         Eastbound: take them
L  high protein  light foods  high protein  light foods  between 6 and 11 p.m.
                                                         If flight is long
                                                         enough, sleep until
                                                         destination breakfast
                                                         time. Wake up and FEAST
S  high carbo.   light foods  high carbo.   light foods  beginning with a high
                                                         protein breakfast.
                                                         Lights on. Stay active.

Coffee, tea, cola, other caffeinated beverages
allowed only between 3 and 5 p.m.

Most people only use the diet when they are visiting Europe (eastbound) since you feel like Hell for four days and why ruin your time there?

It doesn't eliminate the jet lag adjustment period (3-4 days)... it just lets you pick when it happens.