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"  OUTSMART GERMS Anyplace people are cooped up eating, sneezing, and touching stuff, things get dirty. Washing your hands or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer is the number-one way to avoid getting sick, says Susan Biali, M.D., who flies frequently for work. Your second line of defense: sleep! &amp;quot;People stay up the night before an early flight packing, but lack of rest causes a drop in immune function,&amp;quot; she explains. UNBLOAT YOUR BELLY The rise in air pressure during a flight can slow digestion, leaving you feeling...inflated. Counteract &amp;quot;airplane gas&amp;quot; with magnesium, says Ashley Koff, R.D., a Los Angeles dietician. &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s nature&amp;#039;s muscle relaxant \u2014 it loosens muscles in the gut that control digestion and can ease cramps and bloat,&amp;quot; she says. Koff gets her in-flight dose from a powdered supplement called Natural Calm, mixed into tea or water, but you can also snack on magnesium-rich nuts or whole grains. NIX HEADACHES The extra-dry air on planes can dehydrate you and cause throbbers, so sip less alcohol and more water, Koff advises. (You could also try coconut water, which contains potassium, a mineral that helps bring water into your body&amp;#039;s cells.) STAY LIMBER Sitting in one place \u2014 especially if it&amp;#039;s wedged between two large men in coach \u2014 for hours can leave you stiff and sore. &amp;quot;When you get up to go to the bathroom, stand on your toes and go up and down, pumping your calves; then grab each foot behind your butt, bending your knee to stretch your thigh,&amp;quot; Biali says. You&amp;#039;ll head off muscle pain and help prevent blood clots by boosting circulation. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.redbookmag.com/body/health-fitness/advice/a11880/air-travel-tips-to-stay-healthy/>