Whoever said that “it’s the journey, not the destination” clearly wasn’t traveling by plane. Airplane travel is the bane of every vacationer’s existence. And it’s not just overcrowded airports, standstill security lines, and subpar food offerings that contribute to this horror. Once we’re settled on the plane, we have to worry about dried-up skin, bloated stomachs, and painfully popped ears.
When it comes to these bodily changes, there’s frankly not a whole lot you can do—even if you’re in the first class cabin. What you can do, however, is bone up on what exactly those changes are, so, at the very least, you can know what to expect. Herein, you’ll find the 17 most significant changes your body goes through when it hits that 30,000-foot peak. And before you even board the airplane, be sure to read up on the 20 Ways to Make Travel Less Stressful.
1 Your taste buds go numb.
Don’t blame the airline for those standup-comic-targeted in-flight meals: An entire third of our tastebuds are numbed as soon as we hit 30,000 feet. And evidently, our ability to perceive saltiness and sweetness drops by as much as 30 percent when we’re in the air, according to a study conducted by German airline Lufthansa. In other words, it turns out we’re the deal with airplane food. Whether you can taste it or not, just make sure to steer clear of these 20 Foods Doctors Always Avoid While Traveling.
