Festival season is upon us – so it’s time for late nights, lot’s of dancing, and all of the overpriced but, let’s face it, delicious festival food.
While festivals are all about fun and escapism, it’s hard not to quiver slightly at the havoc they wreak on our bodies.
Our gut health can be particularly impacted by a festival weekend, due to all kinds of factors.
A healthy gut is vital to our overall health – physical and mental. Gut health impacts almost every facet of our health from energy, concentration and sleep to our skin and immune systems, not to mention our mental health.
So, how exactly do festivals impact our gut health? And how can we go about taking precautions now the season is in full swing?
Dehydration
According to Dr Emily Prpa, nutritionist and science manager at Yakult, our gut health is likely to be negatively impacted when we attend festivals because we’re more likely to drink less water and more alcohol – a recipe for dehydration.
‘When you’re dehydrated it’s harder for food to pass through your digestive system, and dehydration is one of the most common causes of constipation so make sure that you’re getting 1.5- 2 litres per day,’ she tells Metro.co.uk.
‘Growing evidence indicates that constipation can lead to gut microbiota dysbiosis (imbalances) and that constipated individuals have a different gut microbiota (dysbiosis) to healthy individuals.’
Lack of sleep
Poor sleep can also be a factor. According to Emily, sleep loss has been shown to affect the composition of our gut microbiota.
‘Our body’s internal clock, known as circadian rhythm, is constantly running in the background to carry out essential functions and processes throughout 24-hour cycles,’ she says.
‘Sleep-wake cycles are the most important cues for our central body clock, and they’re also important for our gut clock.’
According to Emily, our gut bacteria have their own daily rhythm when it comes to functions, composition and location in the intestines.
‘Just like all other processes in the body, our gut loves routine,’ she says.
‘Simply put, when we eat, move and sleep at similar times of day and exercise at regular intervals our gut bacteria tends to be happier.’
Lack of fibre
Finally, the food we eat at festivals often contains much less fibre than our usual diets (I mean, are you really going to be chowing down on a bowl of Weetabix or eating an emergency apple at Glasto?).
‘Fibre is what our gut microbes feed on and is found in a range of plant-based foods such as fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices,’ says Emily.
‘Consuming lots of these different foods, and reaching 30 plant points a week, is associated with a more diverse gut microbiota.’
How to keep your gut healthy at a festival:
It’s all about balance
Try to stay mindful of your eating and drinking habits, and don’t overdo it. If you have enjoyed a heavily fried beige meal, try and make your next one more colourful, with lots of fruits and veggies.
Stay hydrated
Stay hydrated and with regards to alcohol and remember to drink sensibly. You could try alternating between one alcoholic drink and a glass of water – to keep you well hydrated.
Prioritise sleep
Bring your eye mask and ear plugs to try and get the best night sleep possible in your tents.
Eat fermented foods
Fermented foods have been consumed by humans for more than 14,000 years and can be a great way to add a source of live dietary microbes into the diet, especially post-festival. Examples include yoghurt, fermented milk drinks and kefir, kombucha, tempeh, kimchi and sauerkraut. Fermented foods have been shown to support gut health.
Get back on track ASAP
Finally, a healthy gut is all about (re)-establishing a healthy gut routine. It doesn’t take long for your gut health to get back on track, so focus on incorporating small, simple habits into your daily routine post-festival.
Dr Emily Prpa, nutritionist and science manager
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