Whether you’re lucky enough to have tickets to Glastonbury or have another exciting festival planned for the summer, festival season is upon us.
But while the necessary indulgences of camping, lack of sleep, irregular eating, alcohol and extra steps are good for the body and mind, they also test our bodies and our endurance — and you might think adding some vitamins to your packing list would help alleviate the fatigue.
But they Really Are there any differences? Which is best? And what else should you focus on to stay healthy at festivals?
Here, two nutritionists and one doctor share their thoughts (with slightly differing views) to help you decide what’s best for you before you pop that tube of multivitamins into your backpack.
Are vitamins helpful during festivals?
The jury appears to be out.
“In my experience, taking vitamins can “The festive season has several benefits, particularly in terms of maintaining energy levels and supporting the immune system,” says Helen Bell, nutritionist at UK Care Guide.
According to Bell, some vitamins can help reduce this stress by supporting immune function, energy production and overall health: “Taking vitamins can make you less likely to experience post-festival ‘tiredness’ – that state where you feel completely drained and more susceptible to illness.”
“I’ll be the first to say that supplements won’t take away from an unhealthy diet,” adds nutritionist Kate Booker of Nutrition Geeks. “For optimal health, you need to eat nutritious foods every day and avoid processed foods,” she adds. But Booker thinks some vitamins can help.
But Self’s scientific director, Dr Alasdair Scott, is less convinced: “If vitamins have any effect, it’s long-term. The things about festivals – drinking alcohol, lack of sleep, sun exposure – are quite short-term.”
“All of these things have pretty serious effects and I don’t think vitamins are going to change that. To be honest, the data on vitamins is pretty spotty even in the long term – it’s not totally proven. I think the only thing the NHS consistently recommends is vitamin D.”
Booker believes the effectiveness, if any, will vary: “It depends entirely on the person, the quality of the supplement, and how much of that mineral or vitamin they need.”
Dr Scott added: “People who take vitamins tend to be healthier because they care about their health, they’re probably less likely to drink heavily, they’re more likely to exercise, they’re more likely to eat healthy foods and just being healthy will make them feel better.”
Which vitamins are worth trying?
Bell, who believes in the right vitamins, suggests:
-
Vitamin C: “This is important to boost your immunity. Festivals can be crowded and can increase the risk of catching a cold or other infections.”
-
Vitamin D: “It’s also known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’ and supports immune health and mood regulation.
-
Vitamin B: “These are essential for energy production. Vitamin B12 in particular is important for the formation of red blood cells and brain function.”
“I always recommend starting taking vitamins at least a week before the festival to build up your body’s vitamin reserves. Continuing to take them throughout the festival and for a few days afterwards will help your body recover,” says the nutritionist.
Booker agrees that vitamin C can be helpful when you’re feeling tired: “At festivals, you tend to expend a lot of energy, so it might be good to support your immune system, especially as your sleep quality and duration will be shorter than normal.” And as well as energy and the nervous system, the B vitamin is also good for hormonal health, she adds.
Booker also mentions another vitamin that might be worth adding to the list.
-
magnesium: “It helps with sore muscles from dancing, generates energy and helps with sleep – not just at festivals but every day. Muscle cramps can be a sign of magnesium deficiency.”
When and how often does she think it should be taken? “It’s hard to say as I don’t know the person’s medical history or health, but some people may benefit from taking it every day, and maybe even more so during festival periods when the body is more depleted.”
How to stay healthy at festivals
Even though certain vitamins may work for some people, they’re not a magic pill. “Of course, if you’re partying too much and not getting enough sleep, no amount of nutritious food or supplements will counteract the negative effects on your body,” Booker says, adding, “Eating good quality real food is really important, avoiding processed foods and eating fruits, vegetables and quality protein will do more for you than supplements alone.”
Dr Scott doubts that food would have a significant short-term effect in the opposite case, saying: “We don’t know that eating burgers or pizza five days in a row is particularly harmful. It’s all short-term.”
And make sure you don’t find yourself in a situation where you run out of food: “From personal experience, I always advise festival-goers to bring healthy snacks like nuts, fruit and protein bars. These can be a lifesaver when you need a quick energy boost and healthy options aren’t available,” says Bell.
Dr Scott believes the biggest factor is sleep, which is often disrupted by alcohol, staying up late or going to bed early: “I think if you want to recover, getting a good night’s sleep is probably the best way to do that at a festival.”
“Avoiding alcohol within two hours of bedtime gives your body a chance to flush the alcohol out, reducing the amount of alcohol in your system and helping you sleep better.” It might also be worth investing in an eye mask and earplugs.
“Staying hydrated is also really important, as you’ll be spending more time in the sun and are more likely to drink alcohol,” he adds, adding that it’s also important to avoid consuming caffeine late in the day, and of course, not too much of it.
So if you want to take your vitamins over the festive season (and throughout the year), get advice on which vitamins will actually help you, and don’t think of them as a replacement for looking after yourself in other ways.
