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You finally arrive at your destination after a long flight. You claim your baggage, settle down in your hotel room and decide to hit the pillow after many hours of traveling, only to find yourself tossing and turning at 4 in the morning and with dark circles under your eyes the morning after.

Jet lag is a condition that occurs when people travel through different time zones. If you keep your watch with the old local time of the place you just left you may easily understand why you were tossing and turning at four AM in the morning. Your body of course does not realize the dynamics behind different time zones and it reacts as if you were still where you were prior to traveling. While it is 4 AM in the morning, therefore, your body and mind may still believe that it is 8 PM. As upsetting as it can be however, there is good news. Seasoned travelers have learned strategies to easily overcome jet lag or at least considerably reduce it.

-Exercise

Keeping in top shape the days prior to your travel date may help boost your immunity and make you stronger fro the trip. Of course, do not improvvise an exercise regimen suddenly or you will get muscle aches and soreness for days!

-West versus East Travel

According to Reid KJ, Chang AM, Zee PC in the book -Circadian rhythm sleep disorders: ''Eastward travel is associated with difficulty in falling asleep at the new bed-time and difficulty arising in the morning, while westward travel is associated with early evening sleepiness and predawn awakening''

-The power of Melatonin

Melatonin is a natural hormone that is actually secreted by the pineal gland during the night,whereas during the day its production is suppressed. When traveling towards different time zones therefore, the production and suppression of this hormone is disturbed. This is because the body still acts as if still on the schedule of the place of origin.

The supplementation of *Melatonin may therefore help those that are planning to travel through some time zones. However, there are controversial studies on its actual effectiveness. According to CDC:

'' Although no results from rigorous studies of safety or dosage of melatonin are available, limited evidence suggests melatonin is safe and well tolerated, and doses of 0.5-5 mg may promote sleep and decrease jet lag symptoms in travelers crossing five or more time zones (6,7). Melatonin should be taken at the desired bedtime, beginning 3-4 days before departure if possible. Although melatonin is generally

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