It’s official – summer has arrived, and that means festival season is just around the corner. With big names like RAYE, Olivia Rodrigo, Hozier and more hitting UK festival stages this summer, it’s all fun and games… until your body starts to feel the effects.
Your gut health, in particular, can take a real hit. Alcohol, greasy food and lack of sleep are a recipe for disaster when it comes to digestion – but the good news is that there are simple ways to help look after your gut and still enjoy yourself.
How do festivals impact your gut health?
Dehydration
When you’re at a festival, it’s easy to get dehydrated. Dancing in the heat all day, mixed with alcohol and a lack of water, can quickly leave you feeling thirsty.
Staying hydrated is key for a happy and healthy gut. That’s because when you’re dehydrated, there’s not enough water in your lower intestine, which can make stools harder to pass. In fact, dehydration is one of the most common causes of constipation, and no one wants that ruining their festival weekend!
Lack of sleep
Getting good sleep is an underrated resource for gut health, but it’s crucial for the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
Our guts love a routine, so when you’re at a festival and this routine is disrupted, your gut will feel it too. Our body’s internal clock (Circadian Rhythm) runs on a 24-hour, day-to-night cycle, and plays a key role in managing many of our background functions.
Our gut bacteria follow their own daily rhythms when it comes to activity, composition and location within the intestines. When we disrupt them by partying into the early morning at festivals, our gut’s routine is thrown off.
Lack of fibre
Festival food isn’t known for its nutritional value and often takes the form of something fried and greasy, which may well take its toll on the digestive system.
Our gut is happiest when we feed its microbes a colourful variety of fruits, veg, nuts, seeds and whole grains. It can be tricky to get enough fibre when attending festivals, but we’ve got some simple tips to help.
Keep healthy whilst partying at festivals this summer:
Balance is the key
Try not to overdo it at the festival! Balance your fix of fried food with something that contains colourful fruits or veggies. Add veggie toppings to your favourite beige food where you can (e.g., ask for extra mushrooms, peppers, and olives on your pizza), or swap your side of chips for salad. Go for the extra veggie option in your burrito or choose the vibrant stir-fry instead of chips. Falafel wraps are also a great fibre kick!
Stay hydrated
It’s easy to forget about water when you’re having a good time, but your gut (and head) will thank you for it the next day. Alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Water is best, and it’s recommended that adults drink 2 litres of water a day to stay hydrated.
Prioritise sleep
Make sure you’ve got the essentials to boost your quality of sleep. Pack an eye mask, earplugs and anything you can do to ensure the best night’s sleep possible – especially if you’re camping!
Getting back to routine
As mentioned, a healthy gut thrives on routine. That means regular sleeping, eating and exercise patterns to maximise gut health. It doesn’t take long to get your gut back on track, so slipping back into your usual routine as soon as possible after the festival will keep your gut happy and healthier.
These simple tips can help keep you, and your gut, feeling great whilst you scream the lyrics to your favourite artist this festival season!
For further information, visit https://www.yakult.co.uk/summer-gut-festival/
