AVIATION NUTRITIONIST

WHAT DOES IT TEST? This test is designed for people who spend a lot of time at altitude, writes Marisa Cannon. It educates frequent flyers about which foods, nutrients and types of exercise could help them to recover more quickly from fatigue and stress. It looks at six categories – cardiometabolic health, food intolerances, weight management, body composition, eating habits and physical activity – to calculate nutritional values such as how much Omega-3 fat, vitamin B and D you need; if you have any lactose and gluten intolerances; and more niche features such as your ability to taste fat in food or how motivated you are to exercise. WHAT WILL MY RESULTS LOOK LIKE? Results come in a 40-page document, which gives a thorough breakdown of the benefits of each dietary or fitness component, its enzyme role, which gene variant you have of it and your body response/risk level. I found out that, unlike Jenny, I digest monounsaturated fats better than starch, but I may have low levels of Omega-3, which could increase my risk of heart disease. I also have a slight lactose intolerance, which might come from my mother’s South Asian genes, and a higher than average pain threshold, which means I should be able to withstand prolonged exercise. WHAT NEXT? The Aviation Nutritionist can go through your results with you and recommend diet changes. It has also teamed up with Londonbased caterers Absolute Taste to tailor onboard meals that address clients’ nutrient deficiencies, although this is currently available only on private jets. My onboard meal included foods high in vitamin D and C, calcium and Omega 3s, with no gluten and limited dairy. I would be served dishes such as miso glazed salmon with grilled asparagus and cauliflower rice, grilled courgette carpaccio with goats’ cheese and cinnamon poached pear with coconut yoghurt. VERDICT While the test doesn’t reveal anything groundbreaking, it could help to know which food groups are making you feel sluggish or whether it’s the yoghurt and cheese at breakfast that’s causing your blocked sinuses, rather than dry cabin air. PRICE £495 CONTACT theaviationnutritionist.co.uk