Many Californians spend hours on the road to get to their destination. It is a large state with hundreds of thousands of drivers on the streets at the same time, so it can be easy to feel exhaustion after spending so much time in traffic. It can lead to drowsy driving, the cause of nearly 10 percent of motor vehicle accidents in the United States. With how busy and slow the streets of Los Angeles can be, drowsy driving can be a huge threat to the residents.
If you want to avoid sleeping behind the wheel, most of it depends on your health. Getting enough sleep is one obvious counter to the problem, but you are going to need something else to keep you awake for hours going to work or taking a road trip. You need proper nutrition.
A healthy eater is a safer driver
Arrive Alive, an organization against impaired driving, stresses that food choice can impact your fatigue, mental alertness and concentration. They state that foods that are high in fat and sugar are a main cause of driver fatigue. These unhealthy edibles already make you feel more tired outside your car, but you are not in a position to burn off those extra calories while driving.
They recommend foods that are low in sodium, carbohydrates and sugars. Blueberries are a fruit they find to boost your concentration and memory to help you keep alert on the road while water can increase your thinking speed and keep you focused. Portion control by having smaller, healthier foods in bags rather than stopping for chips at a gas station will also keep you healthier and awake on the streets.
Unhealthy foods can keep you up
Los Angeles may be a place where many people stay up late, but you need a good night’s sleep in order to drive properly to your destination the next day. Research shows that eating healthier and earlier in the day can help you sleep better. While many Californian’s are aware of the dangers of caffeine or sugar before bed, they may not know that spicy and fatty foods can keep you up with how hard they are to digest.
Knowing when and what to eat throughout the day saves your life in more ways than one. Being more alert on the California highways does not just prevent you from committing any drowsy driving accidents, it allows you to be cautious of other risky drivers as well.
