Another health concern for frequent flyers particularly is radiation. All radiation is known to cumulatively increase one's risk of cancer.
At higher altitudes, occupants are exposed to more cosmic rays, a high energy radiation that is largely absorbed by the atmosphere. So one cross country round trip, it turns out is equivalent radiation exposure to a chest x-ray. Back scatter x-rays used by TSA at airports has also had some experts concerned.
So what can be done to counteract this? Surprisingly the answer may be diet.
Research funded by the National Cancer Institute, studied what foods might protect pilots who receive far more frequent radiation exposure than others.
The findings: pilots who ate the most dietary antioxidants suffered the least amount of DNA damage. However, not by taking supplements, which actually increased damage.
Those consuming a mix of fruits and vegetables such as citrus, nuts, seeds, pumpkins, and peppers did best. Also green leafy veggies like spinach, ginger root were found to protect against radiation.
Similar results were found in studies of other population groups exposed to high amounts of radiation including survivors of the atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the nuclear accident at Chernobyl, hospital x-ray workers, and in Pentagon Cold War experiments.
The radiation protective foods may include herbs garlic, turmeric, goji berries,
mint leaves, oregano and especially tea from Lemon balm.
So when taking those frequent long distance trips, take some kale chips and wash it down with lemon balm tea; then dine on a green veggie salad with herb dressing with fruit for dessert!
Paul Hudson
President
FlyersRights.org
References:
See Limaye MR, Severence H. Pandora's Boxes: questions unleased in airport scanner debate. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2011; 111(2):87-8, 119.
Yong LC, et al, High Dietary antioxidants intakes are associated with decreased chromosome translocation frequency in airline pilots. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009; 90(5):1402-10.
Friedberg W et al, Radiation exposure during air travel: Guidance provided by the FAA for air carrier crews. Health Phys. 2000; 79(5):591-5.
Sauvaget C et al. Dietary factors and cancer mortality among atomic bomb survivers. Mutat Res. 2004:551(1-2):145-52.
Kordysh EA et al. Dietary and clastogenic factors in children...contaminated by Chernobyl accident. Arch Environ Health. 2001; 56(4):320-6.
Arora R, et al, Radioprotection by plant products, Phytother Res. 2005:19(1):1-22.
See Gen. Greger, Michael with Gene Stone, How Not To Die, Flatiron Books, 2015, p. 241-3