How to prepare for jet lag

Jet lag is no joke, although different people cope with it to different degrees.  Jet lag affects your whole body; it's a physical syndrome.  Symptoms include stomach upset, deep fatigue, fuzzy-headedness, absentmindedness, slow-wittedness, poor concentration, weakness, disrupted bowel movements, and changes in the frequency of urination.  And unfortunately it's worse if you're flying east because the human body cycle is actually slightly longer than 24 hours, which makes it hard to shift your body clock earlier.

Ugh!

I read an article on Frommers.com that suggested trying to prepare for jet lag before even taking off the ground.  So I thought I'd share these tips with you.  And it turns out that it's a good thing our itinerary is packed, because the more you expose yourself to external stimuli in your new environment, the faster the necessary chemical changes will take place in your brain to help you adapt to your new surroundings.
How to Prepare for Jet Lag

Sleep doctors have two major approaches for speeding up adaptation to jet lag.  You can mitigate the symptoms with drugs, and you can actually change your body clock with light therapy.

Also, for years, Argonne National Laboratories in Illinois has been offering a special diet which has plenty of anecdotal, although little scientific, backing for success.

To try curtail the symptoms of jet lag without taking any drugs or following any complicated diet regimens, try the following tricks the next time you fly.

• Start resetting your body clock before you fly.  Shift your bedtime by an hour or two in the right direction starting three days before your trip.
• Drink lots of water before, during, and after your flight.  Experts recommend that you drink at least two 8-ounce glasses just before departure and 1 liter for every hour you spend in the air - in addition to beverages you drink with meals.  Even if you don't feel thirsty, drink up.  Thirst doesn't necessarily precede the symptoms of dehydration, which can set in without warning.
• The minute you step into the airplane cabin, adopt the hour of the time zone you're traveling to.  Reset your watch and start to think according to the new time zone.
• Avoid drinking alcohol or ingesting other depressants, such as Dramamine or other motion-sickness drugs, before, and during your flight.
• Eat more lightly than you are accustomed to before your flight and while you're in the air.
• Daytime naps are OK to take after you arrive, but keep them to 30 minutes or less so they don't interfere with your nighttime sleep.

Anyone else have tips or tricks that has worked for them?