The festival season is in full swing: Over 200,000 people are flocking to the festivals in Reading and Leeds this weekend to dance wildly to Blink 182, Lana Del Rey and The Prodigy.
But while they’re there, festival-goers don’t always take good care of themselves: they drink a little too much, eat junk food, and don’t hydrate enough in the sun.
This, coupled with several bad nights of camping, means that many people may not feel their best on Monday.
If that sounds like you, read on because a nutritionist has revealed exactly what you should do and eat to help your body recover after your five days of nonstop partying.
Kerry Beeson, a qualified nutritional therapist at Prep Kitchen, explained to Metro.co.uk the strain that attending a festival can put on the body.
She said: “You might come home from a camping festival feeling bad about changing your diet. High-fat foods take a long time to digest and this can make us sluggish. Sugary foods can cause blood sugar spikes and troughs – these dips can make us weak and tired. Alcohol can dehydrate us and put a strain on our liver.
“Your festival diet is likely to be nutrient-poor and give little back to the body, so it’s important to get your diet back on track and eat plenty of nutrient-rich foods once you’re back home.”
“Focus on filling your diet with nutrient-dense foods, replenishing fluids, balancing your blood sugar levels and supporting gut health.”
To achieve this, Kerry recommends consuming more fiber, healthy proteins and healthy fats with each meal or snack.
For fiber, choose nuts, whole fruits, and whole grains, while for protein, go for eggs, tofu, beans, lean meat, or fish. Olive oil and avocado are also good choices.
The expert claims that replacing complex carbohydrates is another good way to recover, so skip white bread, white rice and pasta and opt for oats, brown rice, whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, beans or lentils instead.
“These help balance your blood sugar levels because they slow down carbohydrate metabolism and prevent blood sugar fluctuations,” explains Kerry.
Other nutrient-dense foods that you should definitely eat enough of include fruits and vegetables, especially dark fruits like red grapes, cherries and berries, and vegetables like broccoli, kale, peppers and mushrooms, and spices like turmeric.
Green tea, coffee and dark chocolate also have high antioxidant levels.
A rather surprising tip to speed up recovery:
Lily Keeling, registered dietitian at Green Chef, has a rather unusual suggestion for speeding up recovery after attending a festival, which certainly won’t be for everyone.
She tells Metro.co.uk that cucumber juice can be incredibly healthy.
“I recommend having a glass of cucumber juice ready when you get home. Although it may not be to everyone’s taste, this salty companion certainly has its benefits for those who want to speed up their recovery.
“It can help restore fluid balance because it contains a mix of sodium and potassium, helping to replace lost electrolytes.”
“This salty drink also contains antioxidants like vitamins C and E, which have beneficial effects on your overall health and immune system.”
She adds: “Some people also swear by cucumber juice as a hangover cure.”
“These foods offer numerous health benefits as they are nutrient-dense and full of immune-boosting vitamins and minerals, natural fiber, healthy fats and detoxifying antioxidants,” adds Kerry.
Although green tea can be helpful, personal trainer and nutritionist to the stars Scott Harrison warns against drinking too much black tea or other caffeinated beverages.
And of course, you should definitely avoid any more alcohol for a while.
“These can further dehydrate you and disrupt your sleep patterns. With that in mind, make sure you get enough sleep so your body can recover,” adds Scott.
Do you want to tell a story?
Contact us by email at [email protected].
MORE: This ‘spectacular’ seaside town officially has the best food and drink in the UK
MORE: Scientists have finally figured out whether you should spread cream or jam on scones first
MORE: André 3000 shocks fans by ‘barking’ and ‘speaking in an invented language’ in a bizarre performance
Sign up to our London events calendar and receive reliable reviews, great deals and competitions. The best sights in London in your inbox
This website is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
