Whether you’re a festival newbie or a hardened hippie, you’ll know that what’s about to go down on the campsite will be heavy-going on your body. But is there a way to party hard and recover quickly? We consulted the experts for the lowdown.
Before the party starts...
It’s not just about planning the perfect ’fits; now’s the time to build a solid sleep routine, says Hannah Shore, sleep knowledge and research manager at Silentnight. “Establish a good routine a few weeks before by getting between seven to nine hours a night; your body will recover far quicker.“ Getting your diet in shape now is also a good idea, explains Dr Anthony Hobson, clinical director at The Functional Gut Clinic, who urges festivalgoers to eat foods that will “boost energy and immunity“ in the run-up. “Try kefir each morning. The bacterial strains will boost your resilience.“
When the music plays...
Earplugs are essential if you want any chance of getting 40 winks, but even if you do manage to cap a decent number of hours, the quality is likely to be crappy. “Sleep is when your muscles recover via protein synthesis,“ Hannah explains. “If sleep quality is poor, your body effectively turns this process off, resulting in aches and pains.“ She recommends you bring a blow-up mattress and a pillow to “stop a build-up of pressure on your hips and shoulders. More comfortable sleep means better quality sleep“.
When it comes to booze and minimising the immediate effects (well, the nasty ones), gut microbiome expert Dr Alasdair Scott says preparation is key. “Alcohol increases urination and heightens body temperature, which cause a hangover.“ Add in a sweaty tent and you better make sure you stay hydrated and keep some paracetamol on hand. But, it’s true what they say about lining the stomach. Dr Scott says you can reduce the severity of a hangover by having a full meal an hour before drinking to slow down alcohol absorption.
When the party's over...
Several nights’ (attempted) sleep in a tent, alongside all the walking and dancing, will leave your muscles feeling sore. Physiotherapist Ernesto Mendez recommends stretches alongside topical gels for immediate pain relief. “Try gentle leg swings to ease muscle tightness and the classic yoga cat-cow pose.“
Your gut, which will feel inflamed after several days of booze, will also need a little TLC. “Drink plenty of water and eat small meals with seven-hour breaks between them so your gut can do some maintenance,“ Dr Hobson says. “Try some chicken or halloumi kebabs in pita bread. This is a low-fat mix of protein and vegetables. Avoid onions and garlic if you bloat and stick to chilli sauce, which stimulates gut blood flow and can be protective.“
Unfortunately, there’s no real hack to speed up the relief of post-festival pain. However, Dr Scott does remind us of the power of the placebo effect. “If you think something’s going to help, it probably will.“
Related: 5 Tried & Tested Hangover Cures
This article appeared in Issue 03 Cosmopolitan Australia, originally in Cosmopolitan UK.
