Whether you travelling for business or pleasure, the last thing you want to feel when you get off a flight is sluggish, bloated or run down. In an ideal world, you’ll want to stay hydrated and fill up on nutritious foods that are easy to digest. But airplane travel can be stressful, rushed and long, so you might not always be able to stay on track with the right diet. We spoke to nutritionists about the best foods to eat before, during and after a long flight.

What should you eat before boarding a flight?

At 4,00,000ft, the air pressure is way lower than it is at sea level. As the pressure falls while you fly, gas starts to expand, which is why your stomach can feel uncomfortable. Plus, being in an enclosed space with so many other people can leave your immune system susceptible. “The Aerospace Medical Association says our body’s gas can expand up to 25 per cent while in flight. So it’s better to opt for light, easy meals before boarding, especially if you have a long commute,” advises celebrity dietician Nmami Agarwal. “Your meals before flights should avoid sugar, be moderate in protein, and be chock-full of slow burning complex carbohydrates”. She promotes grabbing a fruit before you head to the airport. “A banana is your best bet before boarding a flight. The fruit is loaded with potassium, which can regulate blood pressure and help ease any muscle cramps you face during a flight. Consider oranges too, since they are rich in Vitamin C, which helps to boost immunity. Make a smoothie by blending your favourite fruits like green apple or kiwi with almond milk. I also like to load up on water and coconut water a few hours before flying to really improve hydration levels.”

“If your flight is in the afternoon or evening, eat a small balanced meal to satiate you,” says Agarwal. You’ll want to consume something with protein, so eggs or fish work well. A salad with good fats like avocado and nuts will also create a well-rounded meal. Avoid legumes and spices—they could irritate the gut further—and try reducing caffeine consumption through coffee or aerated drinks. They’re hard on your digestion and can keep you up when you should be catching up on rest.

What to eat when you’re on the plane

The first and foremost important thing to follow is to keep yourself well hydrated, before during and after a flight. “Having a bottle of water on hand is the easiest way to do it, but you could also infuse lemon, cucumber, green apple or mint to regular water and DIY your very own infused concoction. This will not only ensure hydration, but also provide you with the necessary antioxidants,” states Agarwal.

Carrying your own food and snacks on the flight is ideal, as most airplane food have preservatives and high salt content. Nutrition consultant Sangeeta Khanna prefers to not be at the mercy of an in-flight airline meal when on long haul flights. “Carry some nuts in a small container. I prefer soaked, but roasted ones also work,” she says. From the in-flight food options, she recommends choosing hydrating foods and passing over the breads, cookies and cakes. “Remember that your intake of water should be more than coffee or alcohol because they are diuretics. Instead of one glass at a time, have frequent sips of water. Juices are good, as are iced teas. Many people drink alcohol on flights, but that can dehydrate you further.” Snacks high in salt can cause your body to hold on to water leading to water retention, which can feel uncomfortable while flying. Agarwal warns that your perception of salty and sweet tastes drops by almost around 30 per cent inside a flight, but drinking water can counteract this and help reactivate your taste buds.

What to eat after the flight

Sleep deprivation after a long flight can leave you feeling exhausted. Agarwal lists a few options that help the body bounce back. “Rich in antioxidants, Matcha Green Tea gives you an energy boost that can last for up to three to four hours. Bananas and dark chocolates are also great post-flight snack options as they help to ease tiredness and relax the muscles. A decoction of ginger in warm water addresses your digestive issues as well,” she says. Most nutritionists suggest loading up on antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables to boost the immune system, like berries and grapes. Protein is ideal as well, so choose almond butter with crackers, cheese, yoghurt and nuts to keep the energy levels up.

Buying a camera is first step towards photography. But maintaining it in order to get the best output is the most important step. Without proper care and handling, your equipment will deteriorate with time and may not give the desired result. The care and handling is even more important when you have poured lot of money to buy a camera.

We will discuss about care and handling primarily from DSLR point of view. DSLRs are more costly and complex equipment to handle. A proper care can ensure long life with good output.

Here are some of the very simple and basic tips to take care of your DSLR. However, some of the tips would also be applicable for a normal point and shoot camera as well.

Handling: Always hang your DSLR around your neck using the strap. This will ensure that your equipment will never fall accidently. A special care must be taken when giving your camera to others. Ensure that they have held it properly and put the strap around their neck. Never touch the lens or filter surface to avoid scratches. If possible, buy a guard for your LCD screen for this longer scratch free life.

Bag: Camera bag should contain soft inner surface to avoid any scratches on camera body. It must be rugged enough to handle any external wear and tear. It must have enough space for your camera, so that there is no undue pressure while locking it. It is better, if your bag has got an attached rain cover, which can save your equipment from rain. Otherwise, always keep big polythene inside your bag, which can easily rap your camera bag with camera inside.

Moisture: Humidity and moisture are biggest culprits to affect your camera body. It is very important to save your camera from moisture. One of the simplest ways is to keep sachets of silica gel in your bag. Silica get absorbs moisture and saves your equipment. These are available very cheap in market. You may even get these sachets in the box of other electronic equipment you buy. But, do remember to change them after every humid season (in 3-4 months) as they have a limit to absorb moisture.

Changing lens: The sensor of your camera is most susceptible to acquiring dust particles when you change your lens. Removing lens exposes the sensor to the outer world, so an utmost care must be taken while changing lens.
Ensure to change lens in a closed room with fan switched off. Keep your camera opening towards ground while removing your lens and attaching a new lens. Try to keep duration of changing lens as less as possible. Avoid (as far as possible) changing lens outside, especially in windy and dusty conditions.

Cleaning camera, lens and filter: Buy a cleaning kit , which contains a soft bristle brush, a air blower, a lint free cloth, cleaning solution and tissue papers. Clean your camera after every outbound trip. Remove the dust from the outer camera body using the brush. Clean lens/filter surface using brush and then the lint free cloth (this will ensure to avoid scratches). Use cleaning solution, only when necessary. You can also use air blower to remove dust from the surface. Air blower can also be used to clean the sensor manually (but do not try this unless you have seen a demo). Never ever touch your camera sensor with anything. This needs extremely expert handling and leave this expertise with your service center.

Charging of batteries: Always keep a spare battery. Charge a battery only when it has completely discharged and ensure to charge it fully in one go. This simple habit will ensure much longer life to your batteries. In fact, this process can be used to charge any type of batteries, such as mobile phone, AA batteries, etc.

Never leave your batteries inside your camera after the shoot is over. Always remove them as a charged battery keeps draining some charge to the camera sensitive electronics, thereby affecting them slowly.

Storage: Store your equipment in a closed, air tight and dry place. Never keep them in open for longer time. If you have multiple camera bodies and costly lenses, then buy a digital cabinet. A digital cabinet provides a small air tight almirah with the facility to control the humidity level. This ensures longer life for your investment.

Sensor auto clean: You must have noticed some activity on the LCD screen when you switch off your DSLR. Almost all DSLRs today have a sensor auto cleaning function to decrease the amount of dust on sensor. When we switch-off the camera, the camera vibrates the sensor to shake off any sticking dust. But, to get maximum advantage of this feature, your camera sensor must be pointing downwards (keep your lens direction towards ground), so that when sensor vibrates, the dust fell off the sensor. If the direction of sensor is not towards ground, then dust will fall back on the sensor and the effect of this feature will decrease.

Don’t let the name scare you off! Death Valley is one of the largest national parks in North America, and has one of the most adventurous histories in the West. From iconic Wild West stories and movie backdrops to its picturesque desert landscape, Death Valley is definitely worth the visit.

Facts and History

Death Valley National Park is so large that it covers both California and Nevada. Geologically, the park is literally a basin that plunges below sea level making for stark contrasts in the lay of the land. Death Valley is a park of extremes, so you’ll need to plan ahead for some potential safety issues.

Like most national parks, Death Valley’s history begins with North America’s first inhabitants. Native Americans of the Shoshone tribe stayed in the land now known as Death Valley for a few centuries before European settlers arrived. Ironically, Death Valley provided an abundant amount of resources for the Shoshone to survive. Even today, you can see snow on the mountaintops, providing a water source, random torrential downpours bringing up wildflowers, and oases for wildlife and fish.

During the 1800s, travellers of several different ethnicities settled in Death Valley for their own unique reasons. Some of them were in search of ore during the Gold Rush, and some were building roads and train railroads. In 1942, Japanese internment residents were kept in Death Valley for their safety as the tension of World War II heightened. For three months, they lived in old barracks that were used for the Civilian Conservation Corps and helped the National Parks Service Staff maintain the park.

Today, you can still visit some of the old mines that were used during the Gold Rush and a handful of legitimate ghost towns.

Death Valley reaches an enormous 5,300 square miles, but it’s possible for visitors to have a great visit in just one day. In fact, over a million people travel to Death Valley every year for anywhere from one-day visits or week-long stays.

What Is Death Valley Known For?

Death Valley was used for the filming of several blockbuster Hollywood films like Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope (1980), and Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983), and The Twilight Zone television series. If you’re a movie buff, you should definitely check out Lone Pine, Death Valley’s very own movie museum.

The famous and haunting story of the lost ‘49ers also happened in various places throughout Death Valley, and legend says that the national park got its name from this story. In 1849, a group of travelers seeking a new settlement in California disputed over the best route to take west from present-day Salt Lake City, Utah. After several doubts and discouragement, the group split up three times all in an effort to find a shortcut, but not a single member of the party had a reliable map. It is said that one of the last people to find their way out of the vast desert leading into California shouted “Goodbye, Death Valley” as they left, giving the land its name.

What Can You Do At Death Valley?

The desert and mountains provide plenty of opportunities for hiking, backcountry camping, and mountain biking. Due to its desolate nature, Death Valley’s constructed trails with markings and signs are hardly necessary, and most of your hiking is done in the wide open spaces and naturally cut out mountain ridges. This also applies for climbers and mountain bikers.

There are five easy hikes (½ mile – 2 miles), eleven moderate hikes (1 ½ miles – 8 miles), and five difficult hikes (7 miles – 14 miles). If you’re planning on hiking, you need to prioritize your water supply. The best time to do any sort of outdoor activities other than sightseeing is between November and March. Due to its low elevation, Death Valley’s heat can be very dangerous in the summer.

For camping, Death Valley has over 700 miles of backcountry dirt roads and visitors are highly encouraged to set up camp along these paths. You’ll need to follow some simple guidelines like keeping your party under 12 people and 4 vehicles, and parking at least one mile away from paved roads.

Tips For Visiting Death Valley

Outdoor activities aren’t your only options! If you want to visit Death Valley in the summer, but want to stay safe by avoiding the heat, you can still have a memorable experience. Starting with the Visitor Center, you can learn about the history of Death Valley and take a tour of the underground tunnels led by one of the Park Rangers.

For strenuous outdoor activities, try to plan your trip for November through March. If you do any sort of hiking, climbing or biking outside in the summer, wear sun protective clothing, sunscreen, and bring more water than you think you’ll need.

Where Should I Stay When Visiting Death Valley?

Camping in Death Valley is fun because of the night sky. Depending on where you set up camp in the park, you’ll be far away from any source of light pollution, making for a crystal clear night. Keep in mind that the season in which you visit Death Valley will dictate your available camping options. In the summer months, night temperatures can still reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, so only a handful of campgrounds will be open.

There are nine campgrounds total in Death Valley, and they are open to RVs, trailer-campers, and tent-campers. For the most part, there isn’t a reservation system and finding a spot is first-come, first-serve. Fees range depending on season, so make sure you plan ahead. If you don’t want to pay a camping fee, camping in the backcountry is always an option.

If you don’t want to camp, there are four resorts located inside the park. Reservations are required for this lodging option, so make sure you call ahead to secure your room.

Is Death Valley Safe?

It seems like an oxymoron, but Death Valley is perfectly safe. As long as you take all necessary precautions to stay hydrated and protect yourself from the sun, you’ll have a great time!

Heat exhaustion is very common among Death Valley visitors. Pay attention to your water and electrolyte intake levels, and listen to your body if you begin to feel dizzy or nauseous. As dangerous as the heat is, more people have died in Death Valley due to car accidents than anything else. Drive on all roads carefully!

Other safety precautions you should take involve staying away from wild animals. You may find lethal creatures like black widow spiders, scorpions, rattlesnakes, and mice and rats. They usually mind their own business, so don’t bother them if you find their dens.

Also, avoid being in a canyon during a rainstorm because flash floods are common, and don’t enter any closed-off abandoned mine shafts.

Plan Your Visit

Death Valley does have an entrance fee; the price depends on how you arrive to the park and how long you’re staying. All passes are week-long.

• Vehicle: $30 for 7 days
• Motorcycle: $25 for 7 days
• Individual (visitor arriving on foot): $15 for 7 days
• Annual pass: $55

Keep in mind that these entrance fees do not include the camping fees. These prices have a wider range and depend on type of camper, and extra amenities.

Death Valley is dog friendly, just make sure you’re paying as much attention to your pet’s hydration and nutrition as you are to yourself. Keep an eye out for signs of heat exhaustion like fatigue and excessive sweating.

Why Is Death Valley Worth Visiting?

Death Valley is worth visiting because it caters to travelers with a wide background of interests. Whether you want to hike or climb on Death Valley’s mountain ridges or camp in the backcountry to see the night sky, your trip will be unforgettable if you plan right!

Overall, plan ahead for entrance and camping fees and bring plenty of water and sunscreen, and you’ll have a great time!