A recent, randomized, crossover trial has showed the diet may affect the way a pilot performs on the job.  According to Glenda Lindseth, PhD, RN of the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, a diet high in carbohydrates or fats help commercial pilots significantly in simulated light performance over a diet high in protein.  At the Military Health Research Forum in Kansas City, MO, she reported that cognitive function and sleep for also better when pilots ate diets that were high in carbohydrates and fats

Action Points

Explain to interested patients that the study author said further studies are needed to determine whether dietary factors present a major risk for aviation safety.  Note that this study was published as an abstract and presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

“I think that this does have an impact for the military, especially the pilots who are flying, but also for anybody who needs to be alert and have high cognitive performance,” she said.

The results will be explored further in a larger study that will be started next year, Lindseth said. Results should be available in about three years.  Previous studies have shown that up to 90% of flight accidents are the result of human error, according to Lindseth.  To evaluate the contribution of diet to professional and cognitive performance, Lindseth and colleagues enrolled 45 pilots from a university-based commercial aviation program in a study that lasted about 14 weeks.

The diet plan was divided into four segments — a control diet, a diet high in carbohydrates, one high in fats, and one high in protein. Each pilot ate each of the diets, for four days, in random order with a washout period between each diet.  The special diets consisted of greater than 50% of the respective target macronutrients.

For those on a diet who would like to get on a good exercise regime . . . Pilates exercise equipment that is used provides support for the body, so that individuals of all ages and fitness levels, even those undergoing physical therapy can discover exercises to challenge their strengths and strengthen their weaknesses.  The accompanying Pilates DVDs offer instruction with strengthening and stretching workouts on the Pilates exercise equipment, both the large studio machines and the smaller exercise equipment such as balls, bands and Bosus.  An alternative to exercise would be the Alexander Technique New York. The Alexander Technique can significantly increase range of motion, reduce pain, enhance breathing coordination and improve overall functional strength and mobility. Doctors recommend it for their patients. Your doctor may know about the Alexander Technique and stress because it is a very relaxing technique.

At the end of a session with each diet, the pilots underwent cognitive testing with the Sternberg Item Recognition Test — for short-term memory — and with the Vandenberg Mental Rotation Test — for spatial orientation.

The pilots performed significantly better on the short-term memory test after eating the diets high in fats and carbohydrates. Diet had no effect on performance on the spatial orientation test.  The participants also completed a 20-minute flight test in a full-motion flight simulator and were judged based on the number of errors they committed.

Lindseth suspects the performance edge with the high-protein and high-fat diets was related to metabolism of B complex vitamins that occurs with carbohydrate intake.  She speculated that the fats sustain the carbohydrates, allowing for greater availability of the B vitamins. Deficiency of B vitamins has been shown to lead to irritability and poor cognition, she said.

So even though all participants received the recommended daily amounts of B vitamins, she said, they might not have had enough of the vitamins available to them when eating the high-protein diet.  Further studies, Lindseth said, would be needed to determine whether dietary factors contribute to aviation safety.

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My Take: Why did they not figure this out before?  Doctors have known for years that a person’s diet affects them in many ways.  It would only seem logical that he pilots a diet would affect them in some way.  It would be nice if it were only in the good way and not a dangerous way.  Does this mean that all pilots will be on a perpetual diet?

I can see it now, aviation will be the only profession that requires you to be on a diet!  Although, there are many professions people believe require them to be on a diet, like a professional model.  Of course, a model is only on a diet because they want to look good on the runway and their loss is not requiring them to be on a diet.

Your PCP (primary care physician) is the only person that I know of that will make you go on a diet for your health.  Although, a dentist might want you to go on a diet for your teeth to get them stronger or help your gums.  Moreover, a cosmetic dentist might force you on what diet because he has had to wire your jaw shut.

I can just see the ad for a pilot in the newspaper in the future, “Job requirements: pilots license, commercial license preferred, on high carb/fat diet, 10 years experience, etc.”

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There are many international foods and specialty food products that can be used for weight loss or weight gain.  The use of whey protein is used both in weight gaining and weight loss activity, with the latter being encouraged by the purity of the protein, organic multivitamins and the omission of high fat content foods. The weight gaining aspect is also encouraged by strenuous workouts that push the muscles being worked upon to increase in size and therefore add lean mass to the body. A more ‘relaxed’ workout would be ideal for those looking to lose weight.

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