What to eat and drink before going on vacation?

At the wheel, the vigilance goes through the plate. At least that’s what two parts of the Insurers’ Attitude Prevention Association study, Eat Well to Drive Better, conducted first in July 2019 and then again in July 2020 with drivers in real driving situations using a simulator. . “If we attribute sleepiness on the road to lack of sleep, alcohol or medication, it would be a mistake to forget that food has a real effect on our reflexes,” says Dr. Frederick Saldman, a cardiologist and nutritionist who led the study with Prof. Fabrice Bonnet, endocrinologist. During this summer and to limit the risk of an accident, the doctor makes a list of preferred foods and drinks before bending over.

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Avoid saucy dishes and sweet desserts

Filling up gas for the car, yes, on the other hand, be careful not to overload your stomach. “Forty minutes after eating, the body’s energy is working to move the bolus of food into the digestive tract, to the detriment of the brain,” says Dr. Frederick Saldman, a cardiologist and nutritionist. It is obvious that the more food, the more energy expenditure increases and causes drowsiness.

How much should you trust? The Attitude Prévention study reports that a high-calorie meal of 1,503 calories alters braking time. “We arrive very quickly, with carbs on bread and butter for a starter, pepper steak with fries as a main course, accompanied by a glass of soda and chocolate cake for dessert,” explains the expert. To find your way through the menu, without necessarily taking out your counter, the doctor advises to remove all dishes with sauce and sweet dishes as a priority.

Eat as light as possible

To lighten your plate, take inspiration from red meat-rich diets with vegetables and seasonal fruits before finishing off the yogurt. If you want to eat protein, Dr. Frederick Saldman recommends eating white meat, such as chicken breast, lean fish, or eggs, always in small amounts. However, we must admit that we do not necessarily find such a menu in all highway service areas. In this case, the dietitian doctor suggests choosing a simple sandwich and salad.

To the surprise of the doctors in charge of the “Eat Well to Drive Better” study, the sample of drivers who performed best in the tests was the driver who followed a fasting diet before driving, in other words, not eating for fourteen hours. directly “Thus, we give the body time to recover and release a little adrenaline, which will increase alertness,” says the nutritionist. Although he does not recommend intermittent fasting, the specialist also advises those who practice it to check with their doctor if there are no contraindications to this diet, such as a tendency to hypoglycemia.

Choose low-sugar snacks

If you’re hungry for miles, you’d think a bag of cookies might do the trick or even keep us awake with its high sugar levels. According to nutritionist-cardiologist, it is a big mistake. “while sugar provides a rapid increase in alertness, it causes a large hypoglycemic rebound afterward, a bit like a caterpillar.” In their study commissioned by the Attitude Prévention Association, doctors recommend offering a low-sugar cereal bar or dried fruit (apricots, figs) rather than a chocolate chip muffin.

Moisturize as often as possible

With hot weather approaching, we tend to overdrive the air conditioning in the car and therefore dry out our throats more quickly. According to Dr. Frederic Saldman and Professor Fabrice Bonnet, “With the brain sensitive to water loss, the body will then have a harder time completing tasks.” That’s why health professionals insist on hydrating frequently before you feel thirsty. When it comes to drinks, we love water without much surprise and forget sugary drinks. These are counterproductive while driving. “They dehydrate, bring sugar and therefore tire the body more than anything,” concludes the nutritionist doctor.

Here’s the diet to follow for a healthy brain in the video