What is a suggested practice for athletes traveling east?

For athletes traveling east, avoiding caffeine is considered a suggested practice primarily because caffeine can interfere with sleep patterns, which is crucial for athletes adjusting to new time zones. When an athlete travels east, they are essentially advancing their internal body clock, which can lead to difficulties in sleeping at the appropriate times based on the new local time. By limiting caffeine intake, athletes can potentially minimize the risk of sleep disturbances, thereby helping their bodies acclimate to the new schedule more effectively.

Eating heavy meals late may lead to discomfort and impact sleep quality, particularly when adjusting to a time zone change. Training later in the day could also conflict with the body's natural circadian rhythms, especially when trying to adapt to an earlier time zone. Lastly, increasing meal frequency might not directly address the immediate challenges of time zone adjustment and could lead to digestive issues if not timed well. Therefore, avoiding caffeine stands out as the most beneficial practice for enhancing sleep quality and overall athletic performance during such travel.