Nobel Prize: Recognizing Achievements of Women

women and the nobel prize

For more than a century, the Nobel Prize has been awarded to more than 800 individuals from around the world. Even though the majority of Nobel Prize recipients have been men, a growing number of female nominees are being recognized for their outstanding achievements. In order to identify the female nominees, it is important to understand the Nobel Prize selection process. Each year, the Nobel Committees for the different categories evaluate a large number of candidates and select a few to be nominated for the Prize.

The selection is based on the candidate’s work, its impact, and the potential to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their respective field. Once a nominee has been identified, they are put forward to the Nobel Assembly; the latter is made up of members of the four Nobel Committees and other experts. The Assembly then makes a final decision on the awardee.

Since the Nobel Prize is a global award, the nominees come from all over the world. In recent years, the number of female nominees has been steadily increasing. In 2016, for example, five of the six nominations for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry were female scientists. This is an encouraging trend -it suggests more women are getting recognized for their contributions in science and other fields. Likely, this trend of recognizing female nominees is likely to continue in the future.

As more women are given the opportunity to make their mark on the world, the number of female nominees is likely to increase. In addition, the recognition of female nominees always inspires young women to pursue a career in science or other fields. Hence, it is important to recognize the female nominees who have been recognized for their achievements. Their work is a testament to the power of female leadership and the potential to make a difference in the world. By acknowledging their accomplishments, we celebrate their success and serve as an inspiration for the next generation of female scientists.

As the world celebrates the achievements of Nobel Prize laureates and winners, it’s important to remember that the Nobel isn’t just a boys’ club. Throughout the decades, many female nominees have been identified. While no woman has ever won the Nobel Prize in Physics, there have been a number of female nominees.

In 1963, Maria Goeppert-Mayer was the first woman to get nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physics. Since then, other nominees have included Vera Rubin in 1993, Jocelyn Bell Burnell in 1974, and Sau Lan Wu in 1990. In Chemistry, a number of female nominees have also been identified. Among these, Dorothy Hodgkin was the first woman to get nominated for the Nobel Prize in 1964.

Other female nominees include Ada Yonath in 2009, Jacqueline K. Barton in 2001, and Frances Arnold in 2018. In the field of Economics, Esther Duflo was the first woman to get nominated for a Nobel Prize in 2009. Since then, other female nominees have included Elinor Ostrom in 2009 and Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo in 2019. In the field of Medicine, the first female to be nominated for the Nobel Prize was Gerty Cori in 1947. Since then, other nominees have included Elizabeth Blackburn in 2009, Carol W. Greider in 2009, and Françoise Barré-Sinoussi in 2008.

In Literature, the first woman to be nominated for the Nobel Prize was Selma Lagerlöf in 1909. Since then, other nominees have included Toni Morrison in 1993, Wislawa Szymborska in 1996, and Alice Munro in 2013. These achievements stand as a testament to the talented female minds that make the nominees list.

While the number of female nominees is still far lower than the number of male nominees, these women have done much to push the boundaries in science and Literature. As such, as we celebrate the achievements of the Nobel Prize Laureates, let’s recognize the female nominees. Their contributions to Science, Literature, and Economics are just as important as those of their male counterparts.

One way to identify the Nobel Prize female nominees is to look through the list of past winners. Such a list is a great starting point. Additionally, other segments, like the International Women’s Peace Prize, have awards specifically set aside for women.

Thus, the International Women’s Peace Prize is an annual award that recognizes female peacemakers for their efforts in promoting peace and justice. Further, it is important to look at current trends in the Nobel nominations. Yes, it is also important to look at who is currently being nominated. There are several websites dedicated to tracking the most recent Nobel Prize nominations- these provide a good starting point for identifying potential female nominees.

Los Angeles Food Bank: Regional Support

los angeles regional food bank

The Enterprise Holdings Foundation has donated $60,000 to the LA Regional Food Bank to fight hunger and nutrition insecurity in local communities all over LA County. The Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Enterprise Holdings, which operates the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo brands through its integrated global network of independent regional subsidiaries and franchises.

This donation comes at a time when many families in Los Angeles County are struggling to make ends meet due to the high costs of everyday necessities. Higher costs of food, energy and other necessities exacerbate an affordability problem that predates inflation in LA County. The cost of housing has always been high, and many people in LA County struggle to access healthy food on a regular basis. 

"The financial support we've received over the years from Enterprise has a tremendous impact on our work," said Michael Flood, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. "This year's gift will allow the Food Bank to provide up to 240,000 meals for families and individuals facing food and nutrition insecurity."

About the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has been mobilizing resources to fight hunger in Los Angeles County for 50 years. To support the Food Bank's vision that no one goes hungry in Los Angeles County, food and grocery products are distributed through a network of 600 partner agencies and other Food Bank programs.

Roughly 800,000 people receive food and nutrition assistance each month. Candid and Charity Navigator highly rate the Food Bank, and thanks to high levels of efficiency, 96% of all revenue goes to programs. For more information, visit LAFoodBank.org.

Olymp Trade Donates Food and Clothes

olymp trade donates food and clothes

Between October 21 and 26, Olymp Trade held Gifts from the Heart, a charity campaign in honor of Diwali. The platform and its users collectively donated more than $30,000 to brighten up the holiday for 1,000 low-income families in India.

The global trading platform committed to donating a share of its profits to charity and encouraged its clients to do the same. The funds raised during the five-day campaign were used to prepare 1,000 aid packages for underprivileged households in Vikaspuri, New Delhi.

Along with clothes, blankets and groceries, the packages contained must-have Diwali essentials, including diyas and sweets. They were handed to the Shikhar Dhawan Foundation, which distributed them among beneficiaries in early November. Cricket star Shikhar Dhawan himself contributed to the event by producing an emotional video appeal for Gifts from the Heart.

Established in 2014, Olymp Trade provides online brokerage services to about 88 million users worldwide, and is available in 14 languages, including Hindi.

Gifts from the Heart is the company's third charity campaign in India, following two relief missions in Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi. This endeavor is yet more proof of Olymp Trade's fundamental commitment to improving the life of local communities, aligning with the company's mission to help people from diverse backgrounds rise above their circumstances and attain financial freedom.

According to Olymp Trade's representative, the company is fully satisfied with the results of the mission:

"We are happy that Gifts from the Heart brightened up the lives of 1,000 Indian families that would otherwise have been left without holiday gifts. It was more than just another charity mission for us. We really felt that we were spreading light and hope.

Our deepest gratitude goes to Shikhar Dhawan Foundation for sending our aid to those who needed it most."

The platform will continue to make positive changes in the regions of its presence.

Endless GMO Debate: Global Perspectives

the endless gmo debate

The Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) issue has recently dominated the news. Thus, there is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding around these. It's interesting to think about the pros and cons of genetically modified organisms. Well, genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, have been a controversial topic since they were invented. While some people are vehemently opposed to GMOs, others believe GMOs are a necessary part of modern agriculture. Why not consider the different sides of the GMO debate?

Essentially, genetically modified organisms are created through genetic engineering. This is done by making specific changes to an organism's genome. GMOs are then used to develop plants, animals and microorganisms. We can interrogate the different aspects of GMOs and the advantages and downsides of this process. Many admit that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have advantages that make them appealing to countless farmers and food producers.

For one, GMOs are often resistant to pests and diseases; this can save farmers money used on pesticides and other treatments. Additionally, GMOs can be engineered to have higher yields, which helps farmers produce more food with fewer resources. Also, GMOs can be designed to have desirable traits, such as enhanced flavour or longer shelf life. Ultimately, GMOs offer a versatile tool that farmers and food producers use to improve their products and operations.

There are other advantages of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). One is that they can help us produce more food with fewer inputs. For example, through genetic engineering procedures, we can have crops that are resistant to pests and diseases. This means we use fewer pesticides and herbicides; ultimately, it saves money and reduces environmental pollution. Another benefit of GMOs is that we can use them to create products with superior characteristics. For example, we can develop crops that are more nutritious or that survive longer. Also, we can create animals that are more resistant to diseases. In this scenario, GMOs have the potential to solve most of the world's food and health problems.

We've already noted that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are living organisms with their genetic material artificially altered in a laboratory. These organisms are often created to resist herbicides or pests; they can produce desired traits- like promoting increased yield. Also, GMOs can help us produce more food inexpensively. Crops that have been genetically modified to be herbicide-resistant can be sprayed with herbicides to kill weeds- without damaging the crop. Obviously, all these can lead to increased yields and less soil erosion. In this scenario, we realize that GMOs can help us create more nutritious foods. For example, golden rice has been genetically modified to contain higher levels of vitamin A; this can help prevent blindness and other diseases. In this context, GMOs can significantly benefit developing countries.

That isn't all GMOs can help us to create more environmentally-friendly products. For example, crops that have been genetically modified to produce less methane can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Potentially, GMOs offer several other benefits. However, it's important to remember that they come with certain risks, which should be carefully considered before making any decisions. As you realize, there are significant disadvantages associated with genetically modified organisms (GMOs). First and foremost, GMOs can create a negative impact on the environment. For example, if a GMO plant is grown in an area where there are already non-GMO plants of the same species, the GMO plant could cross-pollinate with the other plants and contaminate the gene pool. Tragically, this might lead to the extinction of non-GMO plants.

Another concern is that GMOs could have a negative impact on human health. Some people believe consuming GMOs could lead to health problems such as allergies, cancer, and even infertility. There is also the possibility that GMOs could create "superbugs" or "superweeds" that are resistant to herbicides and pesticides. These organisms could then spread and wreak havoc on the environment and human health.

Thus, obvious risks associated with GMOs need to be considered before they are widely used. Keep in mind that GMO products are often expensive to produce. Some genetically modified foods have been found to contain toxins that can be harmful to humans. By and large, the long-term effects of consuming genetically modified foods are not yet known. And the debate rages on.

Klook's TravelCare for Safer Travel Experiences

klook offers travelcare as travel increases

MSIG Insurance and Klook are collaborating in a distribution partnership to exclusively offer TravelCare insurance as an add-on when Singapore-based customers book travel-related activities and services on Klook's mobile app and website.

With over 25 benefits and three different plans to choose from, TravelCare is underwritten by MSIG Singapore and offers a competitive option for travellers to protect themselves from unforeseen disruptions to their trips.

Steven Leong, Senior Vice President, Retail Distribution, MSIG Singapore said, "We are excited to expand our travel insurance offering through Klook and further strengthen MSIG's existing online presence in the local market. As travel continues to rebound, we share Klook's commitment to bring joyful experiences by empowering their customers to explore new adventures with peace of mind protection."

C.S. Soong, VP, Corporate Development, Klook added, "Travel insurance has become non-negotiable in this new age of travel as consumers seek additional safeguards. Klook is delighted to partner with MSIG to exclusively launch TravelCare on our platform for our Singapore-based customers. As Singapore's leading travel and leisure e-commerce platform, we will continue to enable our customers to discover, book and purchase all they need during their travels from travel-related insurance to experiences and more."

Travellers will be able to purchase TravelCare in a seamless and intuitive way on the platform. They will also be able to choose from three different plans to best match their needs. Additionally, saved profiles on the Klook platform will allow repeat customers to make subsequent purchases in a hassle-free manner.

A leading general insurer with a local presence of over 100 years, MSIG Singapore offers an extensive range of insurance solutions for commercial and personal risk protection, enabling the security and safety of individuals and businesses. MSIG Singapore holds an A+/Stable financial rating by Standard & Poor's.

MSIG is a subsidiary of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd, and a member of the MS&AD Insurance Group – one of the largest general insurance groups in the world with presence in 50 countries and regions globally, 18 of which are in Asia Pacific including all ASEAN markets as well as in Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and India. Headquartered in Japan, MS&AD is amongst the top non-life insurance groups in the world based on gross revenue.

Klook is the leading travel and leisure e-commerce platform for experiences and services anytime, anywhere. We curate the most joyful experiences so that users can satisfy their relentless curiosity for adventure and experiences at home and around the world. With our website and app, users can experience a world of joy, from attractions, tours to local transportation and stays. Founded in 2014, we are here to inspire and enable more moments of joy through over 490,000 activities in over 1,000 destinations.

Fashion for Social Good: Global Trends

fashion for social good

On 16 July 2022, 20 teenagers from vulnerable and challenging backgrounds, together with members of the Youth Crime Prevention Centre of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG), presented 20 fashion collections they designed in collaboration with 76 students from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), at the "#WYWT - What You Wear Tomorrow- Fashion Show".

The 20 teenagers glammed themselves up for the runway presentation of the designs they had worked on together with the PolyU students. The event vividly showcased the creativity and confidence of the participants through their creations and aimed to encourage more of our young generation to stay true in life.

The Show was co-organised by the PolyU School of Fashion and Textiles (SFT), (formerly known as the Institute of Textiles and Clothing), the PolyU Service-learning and Leadership Office and HKFYG. The idea was to unleash the teenagers' creative potential and enhance their self-confidence. The programme also allowed the PolyU students to apply the practical skills they had acquired on their courses and enhance their sense of social responsibility through serving the community.

The Show was held at the HKFYG Building and Officiating Guests at the kick-off ceremony included Prof. Raymond WONG, Interim Dean of the SFT; Prof. Eric CHUI, Head of Department of Applied Social Science; Mr Wilson CHAN, Deputy Executive Director of HKFYG; Dr Joe AU and Dr Joanne YIP, Associate Deans of the SFT.

The project leader, Dr Jin LAM, who is also SFT Assistant Professor, said, "Through #WYWT', we hope that the young generation can develop the strengths and talent within themselves and in others, and learn to appreciate and have confidence in themselves.

"While connecting the community with the positive , we believe that by using fashion as a medium, through the co-designed outfits, both the teenage participants and the PolyU students would be able to fully express their own unique values and potential and pluck up the courage to face life's challenges."

Mr Wilson CHAN, Deputy Executive Director of HKFYG remarked that, "I am a firm believer that everyone has talent, and I am so happy that this student-led project has given all the participants the opportunity to showcase their creativity and imagination. To participate in a process that encompasses every level of fashion production, from ideation to presentation, and by weaving art and fashion together to highlight their stories, both the PolyU students and the Federation's teenage participants have gained a greater understanding of their strengths, thoughts and feelings. This will go a long way in building up their confidence and creativity.

Yi, who had dreamed of being a teacher when she was young, had to contend with a difficult family environment, filled with misunderstandings, bickering and high expectations, which resulted in her becoming extremely stressed and exhibiting extreme behaviour. Joining the #WYWT programme, Yi was able to realise her innermost thoughts through textile art and incorporated her concepts into clothing design. In addition, by applying the calligraphy skills that she had learned, Yi also expressed her feelings in exquisite literary style by writing a chrysanthemum poem to convey her hopes of pursuing her goals.

Hong grew up with a single parent lacking financial and spiritual support, turning him into an introverted personality. However, with his talent in sports and in particular cycling, Hong had always wanted to become a professional cyclist and wear cycling outfits he had designed himself to represent Hong Kong in international competitions. He was unable to do this without adequate resources and support. However, working with his team in the #WYWT programme, Hong was able to integrate his ideas into the clothing design. Thus, he was able to demonstrate his determination by overcoming challenges and difficulties, and express himself boldly through his design and styling, while engaging in a unique experience that he says has enriched his life.

Biopharmaceutical Science Honors Three Pioneers

biopharmaceutical science honors three scientists

2022 Tang Prize in Biopharmaceutical Science Honors Three Scientists for Developing COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines. After the 2014 and 2016 winners for the Tang Prize in Biopharmaceutical Sciences were crowned the Nobel Prize in 2018 and 2020 respectively, this category has continued to garner much attention worldwide. After much waiting, names of the latest winners were finally announced at ten (GMT+8) in the morning of June 19. This year's award went to three scientists who played a critical role in the development of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines: Katalin Kariko, Drew Weissman, and Pieter Cullis, "for the discovery of key vaccinology concepts and approaches, leading to the successful development of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine," according to the selection committee's citation.

Since November 2019 when the pandemic began, COVID-19 has been disrupting everyone's life for more than two years, posing a grave threat to human health and life, and causing severe damage to the global economy. The World Health Organization's statistics show that up to the moment, more than 530 million COVID infections and about 6.3 million deaths have been recorded around the world. Fortunately, it took Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna less than 12 months to successfully develop vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. As a result, millions of lives have been saved, to which the groundbreaking contributions made by these three laureates cannot be ignored. While Dr. Kariko and Dr. Weissman found a way to reduce the immunogenicity of mRNA, Dr. Cullis is credited with designing lipid nanoparticles for the delivery of mRNA vaccines.

There are two major challenges when it comes to delivering RNA into the human body. First, RNA triggers innate immune responses. Second, it is easily degradable, and hence difficult to reach the target cells or organs. The new platform developed by these three scientists is a nucleoside-modified mRNA-based vaccine that can evade the immune system, thus preventing the severe inflammation which occurs when in vitro-transcribed mRNA is recognized by immune cells. These mRNA molecules are encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles and delivered effectively into the cells. They then instruct the cell's machinery to produce harmless pieces of spike protein found on the surface of the coronavirus and initiate a series of adaptive immune responses such as triggering B cells to produce antibodies and training T cells to attack infected cells.

The breakthrough discoveries of the three laureates and the ingenious approaches they pioneered are key to the rapid and successful development of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. These techniques not only revolutionized vaccinology but also signaled a paradigm shift in protein therapy. They represent the advent of a new era of RNA-based therapies. Unlike traditional methods that take a long time and a lot of money to develop vaccines, these new mRNA techniques turn cells into factories where proteins that serve as antigens or therapeutic molecules can be produced. Mass-manufacturing vaccines at relatively low cost became possible. Moreover, they can be applied to tackle a variety of diseases, such as to the development of vaccines against other viruses, of tailored-made vaccines against cancer, of vaccines against HIV, or even of vaccines against allergic diseases.

About the Tang Prize. Since the advent of globalization, mankind has been able to enjoy the convenience brought forth by the advancement of human civilization and science. Yet a multitude of challenges, such as climate change, the emergence of new infectious diseases, wealth gap, and moral degradation, have surfaced along the way. Against this backdrop, Dr. Samuel Yin established the Tang Prize in December 2012. It consists of four award categories, namely Sustainable Development, Biopharmaceutical Science, Sinology, and Rule of Law. Every other year, four independent and professional selection committees, comprising many internationally renowned experts, scholars, and Nobel winners, choose as Tang Prize laureates people who have influenced and made substantive contributions to the world, regardless of ethnicity, nationality or gender. A cash prize of NT$50 million (approx. US$1.7 million) is allocated to each category, with NT$10 million (approx. US$ 0.35 million) of it being a research grant intended to encourage professionals in every field to examine mankind's most urgent needs in the 21st century, and become leading forces in the development of human society through their outstanding research outcomes and active civic engagement.

Remarkable Progress: New Malaria Vaccine Advances

remarkable progress with new malaria vaccine

Nearly 1 million children in Malawi, Kenya, and Ghana have now gotten one or more doses of the globe's first malaria vaccine as part of a test program administered by WHO. In April 2019, the Malawian government started malaria vaccine pilots, demonstrating that the RTS, S/AS01 (RTS) vaccine is simple to administer and safe to use. It greatly reduces the risk of severe fatal malaria. This outcome paved the path for the historic WHO proposal to enhance the use of RTS in regions with relatively high malaria transmission in October 2021. According to WHO, if widely utilized, the vaccine might just save the lives of approximately 80,000 youngsters in Africa each year.

The Vaccine Alliance, known as Gavi, has given more than US$ 155 million to aid with the launch, procurement, and distribution of the malaria vaccine in Gavi-eligible Sub-Saharan African countries. RTS, a first-generation vaccine, may be complemented with other vaccines with equivalent or better efficiency in the future. The World Health Organization recognizes the progress in the early clinical trials of R21/Matrix-M and other malaria vaccine candidates. The conclusion of clinical trials for these vaccines will be essential in assessing their effectiveness and safety. WHO also commends BioNTech, the manufacturer of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, for announcing intentions to develop a malaria vaccine using mRNA technology.

A number of revolutionary control strategy tools and technologies have been submitted to WHO for approval. If they are beneficial in combating the sickness, WHO will introduce additional recommendations or amend existing ones to encourage their use. New insecticide-treated nets, spatial mosquito repellents, gene-drive approaches, and sugar baits to attract and kill Anopheles mosquitoes are among them. New drugs are also being developed. WHO commends the approval by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration of dispersible tablets of single-dose tafenoquine for the prevention of P. vivax malaria in kids. Similarly, Tafenoquine has been approved for use in adults by drug regulatory bodies in Brazil, Peru, and Thailand, as well as the US Food and Drug Administration. Tafenoquine, administered as a single dose, is expected to enhance patient adherence to medication. The current standard of care is a seven- to fourteen-day dose of antibiotics.

Apart from drug resistance, WHO has disclosed other pressing threats to malaria control, and these threats include the occurrence of insecticide-resistant mosquitos, an invasive malaria vector that thrives in both rural and urban areas, and the rise and spread of mutated P. falciparum parasites, which are compromising the effectiveness of rapid diagnostic tests. To minimize these concerns, tool and method innovation, as well as more strategic use of the resources that are now accessible, will be critical.

Global progress in lowering malaria incidence and death has slowed or stalled in recent years, according to the World Malaria Report 2021. This has particularly been seen in the disease's worst-affected nations. The report stresses the significance of continued innovation in new instrument research and development if the globe is to fulfil the WHO malaria strategy's 2030 targets. To achieve global malaria targets, adjustments in how currently available instruments are used would be required. The WHO and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria devised the "High burden to high impact" technique in 2018 to gather and analyze malaria data in order to better comprehend the disease's geographical spread. Rather than employing the same malaria management strategy across the board, they are looking into the possible benefits of individualized intervention packages directed by local data and disease context. These assessments will assist governments in achieving better, more efficient, and equitable use of available funds.

WHO is working with collaborators to increase supply by expanding RTS production capacity and encouraging the development of additional first-generation and next-generation malaria vaccines. WHO is overseeing the creation of a system for allocating the limited malaria supply, which will determine where the first doses of the vaccine will be deployed; the goal is to target areas with the greatest need and has a high malaria occurrence until supply equals demand.

The RTS trial program is made possible by astounding collaboration between in-country and international partners, including Kenyan, Ghanaian, and Malawian Ministries of Health; in-country assessment associates such as GSK, PATH, UNICEF, and others; and donors such as the Global Fund, Unitaid, and Gavi. GSK spent 30 years researching and developing the RTS malaria vaccine in partnership with PATH and with the aid of a network of African research institutes.

Foods to Avoid When Flying: Travel Tips

foods to avoid when flying

If you fly frequently, it's essential to know which foods you should or shouldn't eat. These days, most travelers prefer to take something at home rather than eat at the airport or on the plane. In the past, it was a commonplace thing for travelers to eat on the plane; many desist from taking anything, including snacks, whenever they want to fly out. Some who want to travel for a long time might prefer to take a large meal that can take them nicely

According to Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, a dietitian expert based in New York City, it's always a good idea to consider your health welfare well before you fly out; thus, think about what you will or will not eat before you go out. "Think about it: Our immune systems are usually tested, and the digestive systems are thrown off while dehydration takes a hit. This is why it's crucially important to take foods that keep you hydrated, strengthen your immune system, and can easily be digestive before flying out." Consequently, which foods should be untouchable whenever people travel out? Consider this: It's quite common for people to be dehydrated when flying out; this happens mainly due to a lack of humidity and dry air inside the cabin. Ms. Beckerman says: "For this reason, it's not a great idea to take a sodium-laden meal the day or morning before taking your flight."Beckerman advises travelers to go easy on such foods as the salt shaker- she says it's better to take snacks without any salt added. Certainly, she suggests, travelers should take fresh foods- this helps them avoid problems that come with dehydration- like headaches, fatigue, and constipation.

"Generally, due to pressure shifts, some individuals retain water (more than others) during a flight. For this reason, it's best to avoid over-processed foods or those that have a high content of sodium; this can merely exacerbate the problem," she says. At the same time, Vanessa Risseto, a New Jersey registered dietitian and co-founder of Culina Health, says: "It's always good advice to stay hydrated. Hence, try taking coconut water and electrolyte tabs to help you with dehydration problems; try taking whole foods like fruit and veggies- also try lean protein; this will help you feel your best.

Adds Ms. Beckerman: "Since flying may cause some people to feel extra gassy or bloated; this happens because of changes in cabin pressure. Thus, avoid taking foods with carbonation prior; foods like sodas, kombucha or seltzers." She notes that such bubbly beverages can actually worsen the digestive air pockets… this can cause you to feel bloated, gassy, or extra belchy during your flight. So, by steering clear of these, you ensure you're keeping the bubbles and extra air in the digestive system to a minimum."

Jonathan Valdez, who owns Genki Nutrition, supports the same sentiments. He notes that carbonated beverages can expand inside the GI tract, causing more unpleasant bloating, particularly if one is already gassy. Valdez, who's the New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics media spokesman, adds: "If you're already feeling somewhat nauseous due to turbulence or motion sickness, you might find that carbonated drinks can be helpful. You merely need to weigh the pros and cons."

Further, you should reconsider the idea of taking alcohol either before or during a scheduled flight. Valdez advises: "Alcohol consumption can cause dehydration- indeed, alcohol can have a different effect on your body than if you took a drink while at ground level. The common culprit is the cabin's low barometric pressure; this causes a low oxygen concentration in your blood." He concludes: "For this reason, you're likely to get inebriated much faster; the urination frequency will increase much more."

Apart from the matter of personal comfort and health, keeping off alcohol before taking your flight can also foster a safer airplane environment. Needless to say, if you're a traveler, you wouldn't want to have one or two drunkards aboard the plane you're taking, would you?

Sarah Nelson, the Association of Flight Attends (CWA) president, once told this to the HuffPost: "Most of the more outrageous flight attendant abuse incidents usually include alcohol as a primary contributing factor." Some other foods, including beans, asparagus, onions, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower, can exacerbate intestinal gas and bloating issues. This is because we lack the essential enzymes to digest specific carbohydrates, particularly the FODMAPs that are usually found in these foods, Valdez advises.