Flying might feel effortless, but your body’s working overtime — especially when it comes to staying hydrated.
That sluggish, bloated, wired-but-tired feeling after landing? Not just jet lag. You can lose up to 15% of your total body water on a long-haul flight — and most people don’t even realise it.
Here’s what’s going on up there:
Why Flying Drains You
1. Dry air = moisture thief
Cabin humidity is just 10–20% (think desert-dry). Every breath you take pulls water from your lungs and skin.
2. Altitude tricks your kidneys
Cabin pressure mimics 5,000–8,000 ft elevation. Your body reacts by flushing out more fluid and sodium — silently dehydrating you while you sit still.
3. You breathe faster (without realising it)
Higher altitude = slightly increased breathing rate = more water lost with every exhale.
Dehydration = Worse Jet Lag
Dehydration doesn’t just make your lips dry — it messes with digestion, circulation, sleep, and energy levels. All of which make it harder to adjust to a new time zone.
Hydrating with electrolytes helps your body absorb and hold onto fluid, so you feel clearer, lighter, and more human when you land.
Travel Hydration Essentials:
- Before flying: Pre-load with water + electrolytes.
- During: Sip regularly (not just one big gulp).
- After: Keep it up to fight fatigue, swelling, and jet lag.
Your Secret Weapon: Elyte
Elyte sachets = your travel hydration hack.
Compact, mess-free, low-sugar — and designed to help your body actually absorb the water you drink.
- Fewer headaches. Less puffiness. Better sleep. Faster adjustment.
All from a bottle of water + one small sachet.
Sources:
NCBI: Cabin Humidity
AsMA: Cabin Altitude
Harvard Health: How Flying Affects the Body
NIH: Water Loss at Altitude
